Some drivers heading into Shipwrecked Festival in Te Arai, Auckland, reported waiting in queues for more than four hours on Atkins Rd in the heat. Photo / Shipwrecked Festival, Tiffany Firth
Some drivers heading into Shipwrecked Festival in Te Arai, Auckland, reported waiting in queues for more than four hours on Atkins Rd in the heat. Photo / Shipwrecked Festival, Tiffany Firth
The rural traffic jam north of Auckland that left frustrated festivalgoers queuing for hours on Friday also had residents at their wits’ end. They say there is now an “endless stream of traffic” using the country road and often at high speed.
One local told the Herald that they“take our lives into our hands every time we pull out of our driveway”.
Hundreds of vehicles snaked along Te Arai Road, enroute to Shipwrecked Festival at a private lake on a property between Spectacle Lake and Tomorata Lake. The venue lies to the west of world-renowned golf course Te Arai Links, roughly 90 minutes drive from Auckland.
The Shipwrecked Festival north of Auckland. Photo / shipwrecked.co.nz
A Shipwrecked spokesperson said the delays were largely because the event coincided with Waitangi Day.
“This is the first time we’ve opened on a public holiday,” they said.
“Many people arrived early and all at once.”
The spokesperson said traffic volumes were affected by large numbers of people travelling to Te Arai Links, which was “likely also because of the public holiday”.
Despite the slow start – and some festivalgoers spending up to four hours in traffic - the spokesperson said Shipwrecked’s traffic management plan had performed better than expected.
One local resident, who has lived in the area on and off since their childhood – and more recently for the past 20 years, says they’d never seen the levels of traffic that came to a standstill outside their house on Friday.
The resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, said they sympathise with those who were caught up in the traffic jam.
“But does anyone give a toss about the people who live on these rural roads and are subjected to endless streams of traffic, difficulty getting in and out of properties, with no consultation by festival organisers, golf course management or council?
Te Arai Links North Course. Photo / Ricky Robinson
“The latter issues consents and allows development which might have benefit for the community but what of the cumulative effects of huge increases in traffic on rural residents’ well-being and our roads?”
They believe a reduction in speed could mitigate some of the danger in the area. The road that they live on has a speed limit of 100km/h – which they feel could be reduced to 80.
“I’d like council to put their traffic engineers on it.”
Exacerbating the issue, the residents said, is that the increased traffic has few if any other options to access the area.
Some drivers heading into Shipwrecked Festival in Te Arai, Auckland, reported waiting in queues for more than four hours on Atkins Rd in the heat. Photo / Tiffany Firth
“Shipwrecked is an annual event but the golf course and development traffic is ongoing.
“I’m not necessarily anti festivals or development like Te Arai Links but it is high time consideration is given to wider traffic calming and management issues which impact rural communities,” says the long-time resident.
Shipwrecked was due to finish up on Sunday evening.
