Hastings hoons: Steel bollards set to block road to stop Waipatu problem

Hastings councillor Damon Harvey says the issue with hoons and anti-social behaviour has been happening for years at the problem spots. Photo / Warren Buckland

Hoons trashing the Waipatu area has led to a radical move by the council to block off a public road using steel bollards.

Frustrated residents have reported ongoing problems with cars "winding up" at all hours of the night along Ruahapia and Otene roads, leaving large skid marks and waking people up.

There have also been reports of trash and drug paraphernalia being left behind at problem spots along both roads.

Hastings District Council met on Tuesday afternoon and voted to block off a section of the roads.

The 600m section is at the northern end of Otene Rd and bends around to Ruahapia Rd (on the southern side of the railway tracks).

The initiative will begin as a six-month trial - at a cost of about $50,000 - but the council will consider making it a permanent move in the future.

Police have been targeting illegal activity in the area and have confiscated a whopping 39 vehicles since CCTV was installed nearby in recent years, according to council papers.

"Despite the increased police presence and action, the behaviour continues and is unlikely to cease without significant interventions," council papers read.

Councillors did raise concerns if the section of roading was blocked off it might simply move the headache to another area of Hastings.

However, they agreed action needed to be taken and unanimously voted to go ahead with the road closure, which will not impact any access to homes.

Councillor Damon Harvey lives near Ruahapia Rd and said it had been an ongoing problem.

Hastings councillor Damon Harvey on Ruahapia Rd where the road will be closed. Photo / Warren Buckland

"It really raised its head after the new Te Ara Kahikatea Expressway was opened [in late 2018], which meant that Ruahapia Rd was closed off to through traffic.

"That sort of created it as a place for undesirable activity," he said.

"It is a very quiet part of Hastings so when there is any significant noise you obviously hear it a lot more.

"We would be 600m or 700m from Ruahapia Rd and you can hear these cars winding up down there."

He said trash and plenty of skid marks were a common sight at two problem sites along both Ruahapia and Otene roads.

"I walk my dog down there and walk along the limestone pathway and you see all the rubber all over the road and you will also see drug paraphernalia or rubbish being left behind."

He said that includes things like tin foil and bongs.

"It has been a place where people have slept in their cars, where there has been drug dealing, and also I think there has been prostitution down there."

The council heard speed bumps were considered for the area but it is an 80km/h zone and feedback from residents was they preferred a road closure.

There is also a separate council project under way to narrow a nearby section of Ruahapia Rd on the northern side of the railway tracks, which is another problem area for burnouts and anti-social behaviour. Resident access means that section of road can not be completely closed off.