A previous Christmas day at the Basin Lagoon Beach at Castlepoint. PHOTO/FILE
TOM TAYLOR
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Vehicles can continue driving on the Basin Lagoon Beach at Castlepoint after an agreement between Greater Wellington Regional Council and the Castlepoint Ratepayers’ and Residents Association.
The agreement came after an appeal by the ratepayers’ association against proposed restrictions on beach driving imposed by Greater Wellington’s Proposed Natural Resources Plan.
The regional council has confirmed that mediation among them, the ratepayers’ association, Masterton District Council, the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society, Te Hika a Papauma of Ngati Kahungungu, Rangitane Tu Mai Ra Trust and Rangitane o Wairarapa Incorporated Society resulted in the agreement that vehicles could continue to access the Basin Lagoon Beach,
Vehicles would not be permitted to drive on the nearby dunes, and visitors would also be advised to keep off Bird Island to protect the habitat.
The parties to the mediation have also agreed to work towards putting information signage at the beach and the village describing the high ecological values of the area and noting that Bird Island is off-limits.
“We’re happy with the outcome,” regional councillor Adrienne Staples said.
“We think it strikes a balance between enabling responsible and respectful access to one of Wairarapa’s iconic beaches and protecting the important environmental, cultural and geological values of the area.”
