Submission
Which parking changes proposal would like to comment on
St Clair
Do you support or oppose the proposed changes?
I/We oppose the proposed changes
What is your feedback on the proposed changes
I oppose the proposed changes.
Reasoning and feedback:
Living locally I am down at St Clair most days.
During the travel restrictions with covid - parking at the esplanade was 100% fine. Since the lifting of restrictions on travel the freedom campers have returned to NZ and especially the South Island. Some days there will be 15+ vans parked up and cooking their food / taking up parks (all day and for many days in a row). Additionally these freedom campers pile into the St Clair Tennis court parking (6+ at a time), and get up and pee / poo in the bushes there. I see them each morning I walk my dog there. It's really gross and needs to stop, as do all freedom camping opportunities on our coast, including the esplanade area being discussed.
We need to turn the entire Dunedin coast roads into no-freedom camping zones. We have a perfectly good camp ground (Tahuna) that is purpose built to accommodate these people. They add absolutely no value to our community, and drop their waste / excrement throughout our beautiful coastline.
Additionally the parks get taken up by the ice cream trailers / saunas etc etc. reducing the available parking further.
Restricting parking for Dunedin residents who enjoy the beach is ludicrous. The sunny days enjoyed by families at the beach, and spending time at the cafes / bars restaurants is an amazing local experience. Surfers coming down and parking at the beach - watching the waves and deciding to go out (or not) should never have their parking restricted. This is our coastline and we should be rewarded by being able to enjoy it unrestricted.
If you restrict parking where you say, all side / back streets (Albert St / Norflok St / up Bedford St / down Victoria Rd / down Forbury Rd) will overflow and cause major road issues with minimal safe crossings available. Local residents will have their current parking taken up, punishing them for a problem that has nothing to do with them.
Summary: We need to restrict the improper use of the area (and all coastal surrounding areas), and not punish Dunedin residents wanting to use their beach, or local surfers who want to park and view the waves (which is such a wonderful part of the surf experience of St Clair).
Patrick Mahoney
Supporting information
No associated documents with this submission.
Submitter
Submission id number: 1137166
Submitter name:
Patrick Patrick
Last name
Mahoney
Organisation
In what capacity are you providing your feedback?
Local resident that has used St Clair for the past 40 years