Progress may finally be in sight for fed-up east Auckland residents plagued by speeding motorists.
As the Times previously reported, people living in Cockle Bay are demanding action to address the long-standing problem of mainly young men driving at excessive speeds and performing burnouts on local roads.
About 75 people turned out to a public meeting at Cockle Bay School on July 27 to discuss the issue with resident Danny Wright, Botany MP Christopher Luxon, and Auckland Transport manager Melanie Alexander.
Counties Manukau East Police were invited to attend the meeting also but declined.
Luxon said the officers based at Howick police station are “awesome” but it was “disappointing and frustrating” police did not attend.
Wright said people have talked about the problem for years “with little to no action” and residents want something to be done.
He suggested actions including erecting signs stating certain areas are monitored, installing cameras, increasing the lighting at Shelly Beach Parade and reducing that road’s speed limit from 50kmh to 20kmh.
Speed bumps or chicanes could be installed on the road, and a bylaw could be introduced to ban loitering at Cockle Bay Beach, he said.
“We all have phones and can take down [vehicle] registration plates, take photos of the drivers and keep them on file.
“We could ask police for a single point of contact for this.
“It’s been a long-standing issue for decades and not much has been done about it.
“We’re demanding action from the authorities and we’ll help as a community and do what we can.”
One resident suggested taking vehicles from the drivers who are causing the problem.
“Police are hamstrung,” he said. “They’re bound by all sorts of red tape.
“What we have to do is have sentences and discipline introduced to deter these people.
“They’re spending a fortune on these cars so take them off them for three months.
“Do something that affects their wallet and their ability to go out and do this sort of behaviour.”
Another resident asked Howick Local Board chairperson Adele White, who was present, if her board could help.
She said the board has a fund allocated for transport projects which it usually uses for big projects, with two or three already in mind.
White suggested the entry of Shelly Beach Parade at Cockle Bay Beach could be narrowed to force vehicles to slow down when entering and exiting and that “it would be quite a good place for a camera”.
Alexander said everything AT does on the city’s roads requires consultation.
She said Auckland Council, rather than AT, changes bylaws.
“There is a legislation process on cameras and just reducing the speed limit may not have the desired result.
“Boy racers won’t say, “look, it’s a 20kmh zone so I’ll slow down’.
“We have a road safety team … and we’re happy to work with you on that.
“It’s important we work with police because [with] driver behaviour issues the police have powers to address [those].
“They can issue tickets and have other powers around driver behaviour.”
Luxon said it would be “really awesome” to take an AT staff member on a tour of the area “to show you the challenges”.
He said a shared WhatsApp group could be set up to allow residents to communicate with each other and be kept up to date on developments and an action plan should be created.
The actions to focus on are installation of a camera or cameras in the area, speed tables or speed humps, and reducing the speed limit at Shelly Beach Parade, Luxon said.
“We can find people to lead these pieces of work and present back to the team.”
Potential sources of funding from trusts needed to be identified and Luxon would work on police engagement on the problem.
Those involved will meet again in two months to discuss progress and next steps.
The Times asked police why they declined to attend the public meeting.
A spokesperson says senior Counties Manukau Police officers regularly meet with and work closely alongside local MPs and other community stakeholders.
“These regular meetings provide opportunities to discuss issues or concerns impacting the local community.
“They also provide a platform to cover a range of different topics, rather than a single issue as in this particular case.
“We expect matters raised from this public meeting will be discussed with us in our next meeting.”
The spokesperson says police are aware of concerns around street racing activity in Howick and Cockle Bay.
“We have maintained, and at times increased, our police presence to address this issue and reassure the community.
“This type of activity and other high-risk driver behaviour is generally more prevalent in Botany, East Tamaki, and Burswood.
“Police will respond to calls for service when units are available to attend, however consideration must also be given to other competing demands and priority given to incidents of a critical nature.
“We continue to ask the community to assist us by reporting any dangerous or unlawful driving behaviour to police immediately at the time by phoning 111.”
