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After getting no satisfaction from Auckland Transport, a group of residents took matters into their own hands to prevent cars parking on a piece of public land by the river on Wade River Road, near Weiti Boating Club.
They have placed barriers at the edge of the grass, saying parking there in winter was making a serious subsidence problem on the road, where it runs alongside the river, worse.
At present it is unclear whether the land in question is a reserve or berm, and whether responsibility for it lies with Auckland Transport (AT) or Auckland Council.
Fairhaven Walk resident Riccie de Brouwer says the problem of subsidence at the water’s edgehas been raised with AT many times over a period of many years. She says parking on the grass adds to the problem – when people park there with trailers to launch boats, the grass ends up a “muddy mess”, contributing to erosion.
“We fear the road could collapse, and AT agree it needs work, but nothing has been done,” she says. “This winter AT said they would probably put bollards there to prevent parking, but couldn’t say when. I told an AT representative that the community would put up a barrier in the meantime, and was told ‘that’s fine’. So we went ahead and laid some mooring poles, provided by Weiti Boating Club, there.”
The poles have prevented parking on the grassed area, but not all residents are happy about it.
Ken Jerard says he is concerned that the poles are a danger where they have been placed, as well as preventing anyone from launching kayaks or paddleboards and parking there.
“Some residents say people park up there and are disruptive, but that is a police matter,” Jerard says. “They are punishing a few good people because of some that do the wrong thing.”
He says it can be difficult to find parking by the boat club, due to a sign which says ‘Park at your Own Risk’, so the grassed area was often used as an alternative to the public carpark.
AT passed Jerard’s complaint on to Auckland Council, telling him that the property is Council owned, and Council area operations manager, Kris Bird, confirms it is now investigating the matter.
Bird says Council received numerous requests from the community about preventing car parking on the berms and reserves on Wade River Road near Weiti Boating Club.
“During the winter, these areas become very wet and vehicles were getting stuck, causing significant damage,” he says. “Local residents concerned about launching their boats can still access the river along Wade River Road and via the boat ramps on Wade River Road and the Weiti Boating Club.”
The Fairhaven Walk residents plan to approach the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board, hoping members can assist with the subsidence issue.
Weiti Boating Club did not wish to comment.
