Ripiro Beach Safety Days Prove Successful in Raising Awareness

A multi-pronged effort to get visitors to Northland’s Ripiro Beach to respect the rules was so successful organisers hope to arrange more education days on the Kaipara beach.

On Friday and Saturday visitors to Ripiro Beach were welcomed with a sausage sizzle and an important message; follow the rules to protect other beachgoers, the environment and yourself.

Representatives from local authorities and the community were stationed at the Baylys Beach and Glinks Gully entrances to Ripiro Beach to chat to visitors before they hit the sand and remind them of their obligations. They walked people through beach rules and the devastating impact human behaviour can have on fragile dune systems, animals, and other beach users.

Representatives from Kaipara District Council, Northland Regional Council, MPI, Police, Department of Conservation, iwi and FENZ, were behind the events, with KDC community and engagement advisor Amanda Bennett saying there were no issues among the 100s of people stopped and spoken to by the groups.

Bennett said the days were so successful in passing on the relevant information that more would be held in the future.

The events came from the Ripiro Beach management plan project that aims to set a pathway to making Ripiro Beach a safer place for everyone.

The project was set up by KDC in June 2021 and has since evolved into an ongoing working group of agencies holding authority over the beach and the community to establish a collective approach to managing the 107km stretch of coastline and the surrounding environment.

The working group is comprised of representatives from community, DoC, Fire and Emergency NZ, KDC, Kauri Coast 4WD Club, NRC, Police, Red Hill MotoX Club, Te Roroa, and Te Uri o Hau.

Bennett said the beach has been having some issue caused by visitor behaviour, including sand dunes being driven over, trash left behind, wandering dogs and damage to reserves and infrastructure.

She said the groups asked visitors two questions – where did they come from and what were they intending to do.

Bennett said it was important to know where visitors had come from, as while there is a belief that many come from outside of Kaipara, the survey results would give a valuable picture of where they were coming from and what they were planning to do.

‘’Everybody we stopped was very interested in what we were doing and what the rules were on the beach. I think the people recognised what we were trying to do and they embraced it,’’ she said.

‘’People were positive about what we were telling them and were wanting to do the right thing.’’

Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson said the initiative was developed in response to a notice of motion passed by council, which outlined issues around beach behaviour.

“Dangerous driving, dumped rubbish, and threats to native wildlife have had national attention and there is huge community interest and support for behaviour change,” Jepson said.

The motion resulted in the establishment of a working group, led by Kaipara District Council, which aims to make Ripiro Beach a safer place for everyone.

New signs are also up at the main entrances to the beach with clear rules and guidelines to make it easier for beachgoers to do the right thing while they enjoy this precious piece of coastline.

Source : NZ Herald