What lies beneath...

Panmure reserve is a disgrace at night. By Kris Hall
Panmure wharf reserve is a picture-postcard sight by day. Children splash in the water, rowers push off from a pontoon, and yachties head for open water. But it's a different story at night when louts and drinkers take over. The Kings Rd approach, quiet by day, is turned into a speedway by boy racers. It's not every night, but often enough for residents to seek action, which they've been asking for for two years. "It's beyond a joke now," says Pauline Connett, of Tripoli Rd. "Loud music pumping from car stereos, drinking parties, vandalism - oh, and the mess the morning after. "It's worse in the evenings and weekends, especially during summer, when the behaviour spills onto Riverview and Allenby Rds where these hooligans like racing their cars." Many elderly people live in the area and, says a former Allenby Rd resident, few are prepared to contact the authorities for fear of reprisal. "The reserve has slowly been taken over by louts who put off the neighbourhood's residents from actually using their reserve," she says. "Broken beer bottles can be found in the gutters and, on occasion, up on the grass verge outside people's houses." Reserve users are also worried about the number of youngsters using the wharf who are exposed to drinking and associated problems. As well as Panmure Yacht and Boating Club, the wharf is home to two school rowing clubs and the nearby beach is a popular place for families. Auckland City authorities have responded to complaints by putting up prominent liquor ban signs, closing the public toilets from sundown and installing a bin for dog waste. Residents appreciate that, but want a closer working relationship with the council to get security gates, blanket booze bans and late-night patrols. "Attacking council only puts them on the back foot, in defensive mode," says Wayne Tomlinson, of Kings Rd. "If we're going to advocate for change, we all need to be on the same side." Furthermore, yacht club members come from outside Panmure so local issues are less important to them. The council parks services manager, Mark Bowater, says he's happy to consider putting in security gates and will liaise with clubs, although community board funding will be needed. Abusive and anti-social behaviour are matters for the police. Panmure has no dedicated police officers and the community office is closed until mid-February.