Manly bollards “compromise” decision to be made soon

Hibiscus & Bays Local Board members met Auckland Council staff on Manly Beach recently to take a closer look at the issue of whether bollards are needed along part of the beachfront. 

Council proposes to install 300 bollards along 330m of The Esplanade to prevent cars from causing further erosion and damage to tree roots. 

Local board members raised no objections to the installation of the bollards last September, when the project was raised by council staff at a workshop.  

However, the fact that the bollards would severely reduce the number of car parks alongside the beach caused a public outcry when the work was first programmed to be done, last October, and the installation was halted.

Community consultation followed, with 176 people making submissions which were fairly evenly split – 56 percent opposed to the bollards and 43 percent in favour. 

The issue was last discussed at a local board workshop on February 24, when members agreed to defer any action, pending more investigation into things such as alternative parking.

Since then, local board members say they have been lobbied by both sides of the issue.

Last week, local board chair Gary Brown confirmed that there had been an on-site meeting on Friday, May 6.

“We are concentrating on getting the best outcomes for everyone concerned,” he said.  “There is going to have to be compromise on all parties to make it work. We will have a definite solution shortly, hopefully before the end of this month.”