Council clamps down on vehicles on beach

An historic vehicle access way on to Forestry Beach at Te Arai is being permanently closed.

Although illegal, the access has been much used by local surfers, fishermen and picnickers for decades.

Auckland Council is undertaking carpark maintenance in the area and plans to use sand removed from the carpark to block the access path.

Council’s northern principal ranger Jason Maguiness says the Te Arai Regional Park continues to be impacted by regular acts of vandalism on the beach access gate. This includes cutting of padlocks, destruction of the gate itself and removal of the post to provide unauthorised vehicle access
to the beach.

Vehicle use on the beach is prohibited under the Regional Parks Management Plan 2022 and the Public Safety and Nuisance Bylaw 2013.

The access to Forestry Beach, via Western Boundary Road, will be temporarily closed to vehicles during the maintenance work, which will include removing blown sand from the car park areas and the removal of about 10 dead and dangerous trees. Planting will take place this winter to support re-establishment of the sand dune.

Maguiness says there will be no changes to the current permitted public vehicle access to the car parks at the park. Public pedestrian access will continue.