My Account
Pressure from both sides is being exerted on Hibiscus and Bays Local Board members after they discussed the options for bollards along part of Manly beachfront at a recent workshop.
The initial plan was to install 300 bollards along 330m of The Esplanade beachfront, taking away most of the parking – the aim was to reduce erosion and damage to pohutukawa tree roots.
Community opposition saw the plan postponed and the public consulted.
The workshop on February 24, which was attended by five members of the public, included a presentation by Auckland Council staff showing the results of public consultation.
A total of 176 responses were received during the consultation – 155 of the respondents (89.6 percent) live within a short drive of Manly Beach. The majority, 56 percent, were opposed to the installation of the bollards, with 43 percent in favour.
Staff put four options before the local board – to proceed as proposed and repair existing damaged bollards at the end of Cross St; to not install the bollards (but repair the damaged bollards); to install a few bollards around each tree, and repair damaged bollards; or to put the project on hold pending a full assessment of the work needed to manage the Manly beachfront area.
After a wide-ranging discussion, local board members appeared to generally agree that postponing the work, pending more investigation could be a way forward. They plan to have a site meeting with Council staff once the current Covid-19 outbreak is over.
A lot of the comments made by submitters focused on a lack of parking near Manly Beach and local board chair Gary Brown says investigating alternative parking – something Cr Wayne Walker is already looking into – will be important.
He says since the workshop, he has heard from people saying the bollards must go in, and others saying they must not.
“It’s been deferred because we want to get it right,” Brown says. “Whatever the ultimate decision is, we will upset some people and there will need to be compromise. Protection of the dunes and trees is important – but maybe less bollards, not 300.”
He says members hope the site meeting could be held in April or May, but that depends on the Covid-19 outbreak.
