Fence goes up, fence comes down

The NZ Transport Agency says a fence installed last month at Curles Point, between St Leonards and Roseneath beside State Highway 88, will be removed following a complaint from the West Harbour Community Board. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
The NZ Transport Agency says a fence installed last month at Curles Point, between St Leonards and Roseneath beside State Highway 88, will be removed following a complaint from the West Harbour Community Board. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
An ''ugly'' fence blocking vehicle access to a scenic West Harbour vantage point is coming out just days after it went in, the NZ Transport Agency has confirmed.

An NZTA spokeswoman yesterday confirmed the fence at Curles Point, beside State Highway 88 between St Leonards and Roseneath, would be removed.

She could not give a timeframe yesterday for its removal, but expected to have more information later today.

The decision followed a complaint from the West Harbour Community Board, which, at its meeting last week, resolved to write to the NZTA to ask for the fence to be removed.

The steel chain-link fence appeared at Curles Point without warning last month, blocking vehicle access to most of the pull-over bay there.

The area was used by motorists wanting to pull over, but also people seeking to take photographs, launch kayaks or take in the view.

An NZTA spokesman initially said it would be a permanent fixture and was in response to illegal dumping in the area.

The agency later clarified its position, saying the fence would be an ''interim'' measure ''until a permanent solution is put in place''.

It was to be removed once construction of the next stage of the State Highway 88 shared path project began, the spokesman said.

The agency's position shifted again yesterday, and West Harbour Community Board chairman Steve Walker was expected to meet NZTA staff to discuss the issue late yesterday.

He had earlier objected to the fence and the lack of consultation with the board, saying it seemed like ''quite an extreme measure to stop rubbish dumping''.

Yesterday, he said the board ''unanimously'' shared his concerns and had agreed to ask the NZTA to remove the fence ''immediately''.

chris.morris@odt.co.nz

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