DoC senior ranger Murray Cleaver is un-impressed with the environmental damage caused by vehicles doing hill-climbs at Whakaipo Bay. Photo / Rachel Canning
DoC senior ranger Murray Cleaver is un-impressed with the environmental damage caused by vehicles doing hill-climbs at Whakaipo Bay. Photo / Rachel Canning
It looks like a farm and everyone is allowed. It's Whakaipo Bay Recreation Reserve and it's being wrecked by hoons in off-road vehicles and commercial volumes of rubbish being dumped.
Department of Conservation senior ranger for recreational facilities Murray Cleaver says some people are using the conservation area asa vehicle playground, resulting in considerable visual and environmental damage. Once-grassed areas are now a sea of mud, the result of last weekend's paddock-work done with four wheel drive (4WD) vehicles racing round in circles and motocross bikes doing hill climbs.
The entrance sign message is clear - off-road vehicles are not a permitted activity.
"DoC is committed to replanting and restoring Whakaipo Bay Recreation Area and a few people are wrecking it for everyone," said Murray.
Rangers come in during the week to pick up the empty alcohol bottles and Murray suspects the paddock work and hill climbs are party events attended by quite a few spectators.
"Whakaipo Bay is an incredible recreation reserve for everyone to enjoy. Self-contained campers, dog walkers, school groups, mountain bikers, family groups coming to swim and picnic. Whakaipo Bay is not a place for this type of behaviour,' said Murray.
Department of Conservation staff Nina Manning (left) and Murray Cleaver view a grassed area turned into mud by vehicles doing doughnuts at Whakaipo Bay. Photo / Rachel Canning
Another ongoing issue is the dumping of commercial waste, deer carcasses and household rubbish in the pumice gully areas. Out of sight of the access road and out of general view, senior community ranger Nina Manning said those disposing of the rubbish probably think no-one will notice.
She said recently several truck loads of gum tree chips were dumped.
"It looks like contractors are saving on dump fees or perhaps they can't be bothered making the trip from Whakaipo Bay to the dump in town," said Nina.
Nina said they are asking the public to phone the hotline 0800 DOC HOT and note down the number plates of anyone seen carrying out paddock-work, doing hill climbs, or using Whakaipo Bay as a dump.
"We are asking the public to get in touch with DOC if they see any sign of others causing damage," said Nina.
Avoiding dump fees, truckloads of gum tree chips were dumped in a pumice gully at Whakaipo Bay. Photo / Rachel Canning
It is a breach of the Reserves Act 1977 to damage Whakaipo Bay through the inappropriate use of a vehicle. In the past Murray has talked to people who have ripped up the ground with their off road vehicles. This time he suspects the culprits are young people but lacks information about their identity.
"We are aiming to educate people about expectations in the DoC estate. People seem to think they have the right to carve up the land with off-road vehicles as though it were their own private property. It is not private property, it is not a farm, Whakaipo Bay belongs to everyone," said Murray.
A restoration plan has been prepared for Whakaipo Bay, and over time Nina says the areas getting wrecked with vehicles will be fenced and planted in native plants. She said the problematic drivers seem to have no consideration for planted areas, having recently mowed down a whole lot of new plants.
"On the plus side, we have conservation groups such as Greening Taupō hosting mass planting days and we know the vast majority of the Taupō community are committed to making Whakaipo Bay a beautiful place to be enjoyed for generations to come," said Nina.
Murray said he would encourage the people ploughing up Whakaipo Bay with vehicles to join a 4WD club or motocross club. He said belonging to a club would provide an outlet for their interest in off-road driving and would allow the drivers to make a positive contribution.
"We know this driving is being done under cover of night, and particularly after some rain as the drivers are enjoying sliding around in slightly wet conditions."
From past experience, Murray says parents are often unaware or in denial that their son or daughter is involved in these types of anti-social off-road meets at Whakaipo Bay. He says if vehicles are turning up at home covered in mud, then parents should really question what their children have been up to.
If you have information about who is responsible for paddock-work or illegal dumping at Whakaipo Bay then please email taupo@doc.govt.nz or telephone 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)
