Waiheke Island - Local People, Local Knowledge
The Esplanade
From Waihekepedia
The Esplanade is the road that runs along the beach front at Blackpool, around the point to the West and into Surfdale. Much of it is unsealed and in 2011 the section around the point was closed to vehicular traffic. The point is a popular fishing spot and at very low tides shellfish can be gathered.
Contents |
The Closure Debate
Origins
In November 2008 a council review of the use of the road was launched, prompting a written survey by Blackpool residents that showed all but one of the 24 people who responded supported closing the road to vehicles. <ref>Surfdale Esplanade as an esplanade? Waiheke Gulf News Thursday, 04 December 2008 [1]</ref>
Eileen Evans, Parks and Reserves spokesperson for the Waiheke Community Board, said she had long championed the vision of a safe and beautiful coastal walkway along the Esplanade.
“We believe that to enable safe and easy use by walkers, cyclists and horse riders, the whole of the road needs to be closed to traffic,” she says. “Closing one half of the road will require walkers, cyclists and horse-riders to share a narrow strip on the edge of the road, with cars occupying the safer inner lane. This won't work for users and will be much harder to engineer.”
“People are telling me they want to see a true esplanade - a place where everybody can walk or ride along the waterfront, safely and in peace. At the moment it’s a racetrack, a wasted opportunity that no family in their right mind would want to use”.
“The road would still be there, virtually unchanged. It would still be available in an emergency, simply by removing a few lockable bollards. We’ve spoken to the Waiheke Police and they have said that they would be happy with this arrangement”.
Survey
An online survey was set up to enable Waihekeans to have their say on the future of The Esplanade. <ref>Gulf News, Last chance to have a say on Esplanade changes Wednesday, 24 December 2008 [2]</ref>
502 people took the survey before it closed on 10 March 2009. When asked "Which option would you prefer for The Esplanade?", the 491 people who responded chose:
- Is closed to vehicles except in emergencies 75.6% (371 respondents)
- It is left as is (Vehicles both ways) 12.6% (62 respondents)
- It is made one way to vehicles 11.8% (58 respondents)
Groups in favour of closing The Esplanade to vehicles included:
- Waiheke Pony Club,
- Waiheke Adult Riding Club,
- Cycle Action Waiheke,
- Waiheke Playgroup,
- Walkways on Waiheke,
- Waiheke Health Trust,
- Waiheke Island Tourism,
- Dog Owners Group (D.O.G.).
However the issue also drew opposition, with a fierce debate taking places in the letters pages of the local paper. A most often made point was that closing the road would restrict access to the elderly and disabled who currently use motor vehicles to drive around the Esplanade and enjoy the view and the point.
Car Free Event
In March 2009 almost 400 people walked, cycled, or rode The Esplanade road between Blackpool and Surfdale through the day on Sunday to celebrate a car-free day and street party.<ref>People vote with their feet at car-free event Gulf News, Thursday, 05 March 2009 [3]</ref>
The event was organised by Tom Ransom from Cycle Action Waiheke and supported by other groups and individuals who would like to see the road closed permanently to motorised traffic.
As a result of the online poll the Waiheke Local Board made proposals through the Council traffic spokesman for a more comprehensive referendum.
Council Poll & Board Recommendation
In June 2010 a poll of 8700 residents and property owners was carried by Auckland City Council.
The Council announced feedback results showing 53 percent of the 3023 that responded wanted the road not to be upgraded and to be closed to vehicles. Although a close result, the council manager Reg Cuthers’ recommended that the road should be closed. This was debated by the local board and a majority decision was made to close the road to motor traffic (excepting emergency vehicles) for an initial trial period of 12 months. A notable exception was Waiheke Community Board transport spokesman Herb Romaniuk who opposed the closure and appeared in person before the Auckland City Council transport committee to vote against the board recommendations. The board wrote to censure Mr Romaniuk. Local MP Nikki Kaye also wrote to support the road closure. <ref>Battle looms over Esplanade, Gulf News, Thursday, 05 August 2010 [[4]]</ref>
Closure and after
The Road was officially closed at the beginning of 2011 with the placement of removable bollards at each end. However the road had already been obstructed for a couple of months as heavy rainstorms following a long dry spell had caused a number of landslips along the road on both the cliff and seaward sides.
The closure did not end the debate though. Letters continued to the paper from both sides of the debate.
A line proposing to 'seal' the Esplanade was added to the draft local board plan generated a number of submissions to the local board in May <ref>Arguments continue over fate of Esplanade Gulf News, Wednesday, 04 May 2011, [5]</ref>
Opponents continue to argue that the road should be mended and re-opened. Arguments include:
- it provides an alternative route through to Oneroa from the Western end of the island avoiding the single route bottleneck at Little Oneroa.
- Elderly and disabled people are prevented from enjoying the route,
- Fewer walkers and cyclists use the road than suggested
- The poll did not show a majority in favour - 53% not being statistically significant.
- The change was pushed through by a vocal 'eco' minority.
New arguments on the closure side include:
- The road was dangerous with cars on it as there was no separation from walkers, cyclists
- The road is being eroded by the sea and would require very expensive works to bring up to a suitable traffic standard.
- The route can be built into a Waiheke long walk/cycle tourist attraction.
