People are invited to have their say on a proposal to install bollards along a section of The Esplanade at Big Manly Beach.
Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Chair Gary Brown says that the reserve, between Cross Street and Manly Sailing Club, is being damaged by vehicles parking on it.
“People have parked on the reserve for many years. But now with so many vehicles here, it’s quite easy to see the damage being caused to tree roots, the grass and sand dunes.
“Council coastal and arborist experts advise that if people continue to park here, this section will deteriorate into sand and gravel like the eastern end of The Esplanade.
“It’s a beautiful spot and visitors to the beach like to picnic under the trees. When it’s busy, this does raise safety concerns with pedestrians and vehicles mixing on the reserve and children running in and out between reversing vehicles.
“We know that this issue - installing the bollards - has created a lot of interest from residents and visitors to the beach which is why we’ve postponed the project, and we’re asking for feedback.”
People can give feedback on the bollard proposal until 10 December online at akhaveyoursay.nz.
Brown says that some residents are concerned that the bollard installation could lead to a shortage of car parks especially during busy days at the beach.
Council staff will monitor the current parking situation over summer and provide feedback to the local board early next year.
Then, should the bollard installation go ahead later next year; the parking situation in streets near the beach will be monitored during the 2022/2023 summer period. If there are serious issues, council staff will review the parking situation with the local board.
Key points from the bollard proposal:
- About 300 round bollards will be driven into the ground, without any concrete, as approved by and under the supervision of arborists. Bollards are about 60cm high and will be placed about 1.2–1.5 metres apart.
- The bollards will be installed along about 320 metres of The Esplanade from Manly Sailing Club towards Cross Street. The bollards will remove about 330m of parking.
- Installing bollards will not restrict all parking at The Esplanade as people can still park on the beach side, along the section between Cross Street and Beach Road. There is also limited parking on the beach side of the road, between Cross Street and the Manly Sailing Club, in areas that will cause the least harm to the dunes and trees.
