A looming council crackdown on beach litter at Castlepoint should include better access to the local tip, a property owner says.
Masterton District Council and police have vowed zero tolerance on littering - specifically the breaking of bottles - and anti-social behaviour by boy racers and under-age quad bikers at both Castlepoint and Riversdale this summer.
However Castlepoint Residents and Ratepayers Association committee member John Keen said the council should be opening the Castlepoint transfer station more often than two days a week.
"People are being encouraged to recycle, but the recycling tender is locked away at the same hours as the dump."
Mr Keen said visitors to the beach needed to be more responsible and take their rubbish away with them instead of dumping it in public rubbish bins.
Youngsters who massed on the beach by circulating text messages also needed to clean up after themselves, as residents usually had to gather on the beach each New Year's Day to clean up litter from the night before.
"Why make a mess in your own backyard? It doesn't make sense."
Castlepoint Store owner Devon Oakley said while litter was an issue, reckless use of quad bikes at the beach was "getting dangerous".
"There's been a few accidents between Riversdale and us. Something's got to happen. If everybody used common sense there wouldn't be too many people tearing around."
Council district planner Sue Southey reported this week that the approach would focus on people and activities that could cause damage to the dune areas, reserves and "the natural environment in general".
The Litter Act and the Resource Management Act (RMA) will be used to enforce the crackdown.
Under the RMA, an infringement notice could be issued by any warranted officer of the council and Mrs Southey recommended that police should also be given warrants.
A fine of up to $300 can be served under the RMA.
"Police already have the ability to enforce the Litter Act, and the Dog Control Act.
"The Litter Act is obvious in its purpose, but will be called upon in particular where any person breaks glass bottles."
An infringement notice could be served to an offender either on the spot or at a later time, with a maximum penalty of $400 under the act, however the council first needed to change its current maximum fee of $100.
A further $300 fine could be handed out to anyone who tried to elude a warranted officer, withheld details or gave false information.
Police would especially be targeting quad bikes laden with young people not wearing helmets, which meant of a fine of $400, and bike registrations, with a $200 fine likely for bikes not registered.
The council dog control team would also have a "stronger presence" at the beaches over summer, Mrs Southey said.
"It is intended that a series of media releases will be undertaken by council in conjunction with the police prior to the start of the holiday period. This will include notices in the paper, radio adverts, in ratepayers newsletters and posters and signage at the beaches themselves including the stores, Surf Lifesaving Club and golf clubs.
"It is hoped that these actions will have an immediate effect on curbing unwanted behaviour this summer, making Riversdale and Castlepoint a safer and more enjoyable place to be."
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