Resident wants dune-strip off limits

Tauranga City Council has been accused of being "pathetically weak" in trying to stop beachfront property owners from expanding their boundaries into sand dunes.
Papamoa beachfront resident David Holland said it was time the council stopped pussy-footing around on the illegal occupation of coastal reserves.
He said the council had been negligent in enforcing encroachment rules decided 3 years ago.
Mr Holland addressed the council on a proposed new policy to amalgamate separate encroachment rules.
Aerial photos taken about seven years ago showed that 300 of the 400 properties backing the dunes were cribbing across their boundaries.
The situation was unlikely to have changed given the level of subdivision since then.
Mr Holland said the lack of enforcement meant exotic plants were taking over to the point where they were beyond control _ particularly east of the Omanu Surf Club.
Dunes adjoining beachfront properties had been converted into big outdoor recreation areas, with TV aerials, retaining walls, fences and carparks.
During a quick check down beach accessways this week, he saw half a dozen places where people had tipped garden waste into the dunes.
"Council staff need more teeth in administering council policy ... I know people who have encroaching gardens and they are laughing."
Mr Holland said there had been little progress and "pathetically weak" letters to residents had not helped council staff who had been abused while trying to crack down on the problem.
Council policy committee chairwoman Mary Dillon said the council now employed a dedicated coast and harbour parks ranger, whereas before encroachments had been one task among many for staff.
The ranger, Emily McNie, said nine property owners were actively working to reinstate their boundaries, with at least five others in the pipeline.
Most submitters urged the council to take a non-confrontational approach to those who cribbed short distances.
A group of about 50 beachfront residents, united under the banner of the Beach Protection Group, argued that while big encroachments should not be tolerated, it was common for them to maintain the reserve in front of their properties and plant out dune species such as spinifix and pingao. The group called for a collaborative approach rather than the council being heavy-handed about minor lawn encroachments, properly designed private sand ladders and small seats. Their representative, consultant Richard Coles, would not disclose the names of members. When the Bay of Plenty Times visited Ocean Beach Rd, one resident was hard at work, looking after the council-owned land. Norma Blair said giving the grass outside the front of her property a trim was a ritual rolling back about 18 years. ``My sons used to play cricket here,'' she said, idling the mower motor and moving her red earmuffs to one side. ``It was cheaper to mow it than to lose, and buy, new balls.'' Besides that, the long grass was unsightly and a fire risk in summer. Mrs Blair said she was well aware the land belonged to the council. She said a man who owned a neighbouring home several years ago planted trees and plants, including pohutukawa, in front of his home. Homes pushing the boundary were clearly obvious when walking along the land bordering the dunes. Some had planted areas with stones and flowering shrubs, one a lemon tree among native plants, and on another a trampoline took pride of place. ``From what I can see it doesn't do any harm,'' Mrs Blair added. She was interested to see the outcome of council process about the land bordering the beach and had lodged a submission. ``Hey, if they want me to stop mowing their grass, I'll have to stop.'' The council will decide on submissions shortly.