THE calm waters of Cornwallis Beach beckon families on a sunny day. Near its famous wharf, almost hidden among pohutukawa on a cliff, two orange-and-black striped poles mark the waterski lane.
Auckland's Harbourmaster's Office moved the ski zone last year, but residents want it back in its original position - a few metres left of the cliff face, at a grassy and sandy patch where it has been for 30 years.
"These guys don't understand anything at all. They don't understand the use of the ski lane. And they are just basically being bureaucrats," says Chris Torckler, who has lived in the remote Waitakere Ranges spot for more than 30 years.
"I learned how to ski here when I was young and I've taught my children how to ski and wakeboard here."
Cornwallis is popular for families from all over Auckland learning water sports, because the old lane was in shallow water where they could fall and pick themselves up safely.
But the new site, Mr Torckler explains, does not have a safe area to launch young skiers because water comes up to the cliff during high tide. Skiers have little control when on the water so there is a real danger of hitting the cliff face or getting caught in tree branches.
"Anybody walking through the water, through that section of beach there, is in danger of being hit by a skier and being dragged in. Swimmers are the same," Mr Torckler adds.
What bewilders the residents is that they always had a good relationship with the former Waitakere City Council. On this matter, they say they weren't consulted, or heard by the new Auckland Council's officers.
Bronwen Turner, a member of the ratepayers association, says a council official told her that if locals persisted in complaining, the lane would be removed.
"It sounds like a threat, although she said it wasn't," says Ms Turner.
Adds Gilman Ray, another long-time resident: "In a situation like this, where it's almost a logic thing, we don't seem to be able to get through to them. We're not looking for a confrontation. We're looking for co-operation."
The Harbourmaster's Office told Ms Turner in a letter that public consultation was not required to move the ski lane - only public notification.
The council's media office says the Harbourmaster has been to Cornwallis nine times in the past few months to canvas beach users' opinions. The "unanimous opinion," it says, is that the lane should be away from the main beach.
In a statement to The Aucklander, the council says the Harbourmaster's sole concern is safety.
"In order to minimise the identified hazard, the Cornwallis access lane was relocated a short distance to the south of the original position, as fast boats and personal watercraft travelling in it posed a substantial risk to bathers and children playing in the water. The final decision rests with the Harbourmaster and, as a substantial risk has been identified, it cannot be ignored. Therefore the lane cannot be returned to its original location."
But Mr Torckler asks: "Why is it safer when there has never been a safety issue in the first place?"
He points out the Harbourmaster's risk assessment was carried out in response to the issue being raised by residents and then appearing on the agenda of a local board meeting in November. It wasn't done before the lane was moved last January. There is no record of a waterski- or wakeboard-related accident in the past 30 years.
In 2005, the former regional council's park managers planned a trial change of the lane after some swimmers complained. That was never implemented, he says.
He suggests that if authorities really want to make the beach safe, they should erect bigger signs that clearly show where the lane is.
"In the whole time I've been using the beach, there has been no sign here. There was a ski pole here which was obvious," he says, pointing to the open grassy area.
"They've moved that post from out here where it was visible to behind that pohutukawa tree."
Mr Ray is saddened by the Harbourmaster's stance.
"There's no compromise. There's no logic. There's no consultation. It's like, these are the rules and you will do it."
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