South Wairarapa District Council Strategy Working Committee today agreed on an amended Bylaw to restrict access to motorised vehicles but allow for walking and cycling access on the paper road beyond Cape Palliser lighthouse.
Consultation for a proposed Bylaw to restrict all forms of public access to the paper road for a period of three years took place through July and August. The proposal addressed historic and ongoing vandalism to private land adjacent to the paper road.
An unprecedented 3,565 submissions were received, with 454 in support of the Bylaw. Feedback was diverse, with strong support for pedestrian and cycle access to be retained and significant support for vehicle restrictions. Concerns were raised about the restrictiveness of the Bylaw, and the need for emergency access, signage, and enforcement clarity.
Council Chief Executive Janice Smith acknowledged that while the proposed bylaw supported the private landowners’ request to address the vandalism, restricting pedestrians would not be enforceable and could have led to legal challenges if implemented.
Three recommendations were presented to elected members which took into account the views shared by residents, stakeholders, and affected groups:
- Option 1: Amend the Proposed Bylaw to allow pedestrian, non-motorised wheeled devices, and quad bike and side by side access by permit.
- Option 2: Retain the status quo and continue monitoring.
- Option 3: Do not proceed with the Bylaw and engage with the hapu and local community to develop solutions that: Identify where the unformed legal road (paper road) is by agreeing to survey the area. Discuss with Heritage NZ the actions needed for the community to fence the site. Develop information boards at the entrance to the area that clearly identify the conditions under which access is permitted. Discuss options for continuing access if there are areas of the unformed road that are no longer able to be used.
Committee Chair Melissa Sadler-Futter encouraged members to thrash the subject out. “I ask you to put ideas out on the table, debate the issue and be as open as possible to find the best outcome for our community. There’s nothing stopping us combining or changing recommendations. There was broad support from elected members for option one where a Bylaw would provide the time necessary to survey and define the paper road from the privately owned land.
Further consideration around sustainable long-term access was discussed, with a stakeholder group proposed to manage this. Other concerns that were discussed included quad bike access, permits, enforcement, maintenance and unintended consequences.
Following robust deliberations, the committee resolved to:
Amend the proposed Cape Palliser Paper Road Bylaw to allow for pedestrians, bicycles and e-bikes for a 24-month period only, with the exception of motorised vehicles for landowners, and Department of Conservation and Council invitees. Immediately survey and define the exact route of the Unformed Legal Road. Install signage to identify the exact route of the Unformed Legal Road. Invite a stakeholder access group comprised of Ngāti Hinewaka, Ngawi community/Ratepayers association, Council, Rural and Coastal Advisory Group, Department of Conservation, Walking Access Commission, Heritage NZ and the National 4-Wheel Drive Association to consider options for future access and use of the Unformed Legal Road. The Bylaw will be approved at the 8 October Council meeting.
