2 Sep 2009

Hearing on bylaw against vehicles on beach

9:31 am on 2 September 2009

Whangarei District Council is hearing public submissions on Wednesday on a bylaw to restrict vehicles on beaches.

Vehicles would be banned from part of Ruakaka beach, south of Whangarei.

The proposed bylaw requires drivers to behave responsibly and safely on all beaches, with fines of up to $20,000.

More than 100 people have signed submissions supporting the proposal, with many asking for more limitations and safe zones.

Northland councils have been working on ways to control driving on beaches, since the death of Daisy Fernandez, 13, in 2007. She was killed by a teenage bike-rider on Ripiro Beach.