Hastings District Council closes Cape Coast reserves to overnight stays

Hastings District Council closed the beachfront from Haumoana Domain through to Clifton to overnight stays/camping on Saturday. Photo / Paul Taylor

Increasing numbers of people have been travelling to Haumoana, Te Awanga and Clifton and taking up temporary, overnight residence, prompting public health concerns around reserves there.

While people in self-contained motorhomes have mostly moved to more permanent sites at holiday parks, Hastings District Council closed the beachfront from Haumoana Domain through to Clifton to overnight stays/camping on Saturday.

This move is in line with the national police strategy aimed at preventing people from moving unnecessarily for recreational purposes, maintaining public health and keeping within bubbles.

Council is talking to those people currently using this area for overnight stays in vehicles, including transients and, if necessary, will support them to move to registered accommodation at Windsor Park Top 10 Holiday Park where they will be provided with care packages including food, clothing and medical attention, if needed.

This wraparound support is part of the council's overall welfare response plan, the objectives of which include assisting wherever it's needed, in support of the overall Hawke's Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management welfare response.

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst says the council's welfare team is working hard to make sure the community is safe during the lockdown and has everything it needs to manage through this difficult time.

"For those in our community without a permanent, safe home, we are providing them with accommodation and wraparound support services, where needed."