East Coast off limits for 4WD

Vehicles have been mostly banned from Marlborough’s East Coast Beach, after council voted on a controversial bylaw last week.

$300 a month for, a $68 dollar increase from last year. There is currently a twoyear waiting list for pontoon berths, with no preference given to locals, Andy says.

“Could Port Marlborough develop part of their pontoons for local boats that are not multi-million gin palaces?”

Andy says there is also a $25 a day charge on top of regular berth fees to use the marina’s maintenance berth which he uses once or twice a week.

Older, historic vessels like his are already an attraction for marina visitors.

A purpose-built pontoon to showcase older vessels could be a successful addition, he says.

“They don’t look after people who have been paying for years. It’s a good earner and maybe there’s room in the Port Marlborough business plan to look after us locals.

“I’m not talking free here or a massive discount, but looking after the council’s bread and butter, the ratepayers.”

Previously, there were no enforced rules for vehicles on the stretch of coast, which has led to public safety concerns and increasing environmental damage since the Kaikōura earthquake.

The adopted vehicle bylaw largely follows its original proposal - but with recommendations for limited ATV and UTV access to 9km of the coast added by an independent hearings panel.

“This bylaw was borne from widespread community concerns, and the public turning to Council for a solution,” says Mayor Nadine Taylor.

“We have adopted the recommendations from the hearings panel, which places great responsibility on the public to be part of the solution and act as stewards of this special place,”

The bylaw has no new restrictions for businesses already operating in the areas, including commercial boat launching. The intention of the hearings panel recommendations is that the bylaw would restore some equivalence to the pre-earthquake access for quad bikes with additional environmental and public safety limits, said Mayor Taylor.

“We are keeping the ATV and UTV access for the community in the area that is most popular for fishing, customary harvest and general access. In turn, we expect everyone to collectively protect the fragile dune and reef systems, as well as rare and threatened biodiversity, from vehicles while ensuring that the public remain safe,” she says.

The bylaw comes into effect on 1 July 2023.