A Dunedin surfing organisation has joined calls to reopen Dunedin's scenic John Wilson Ocean Dr, saying the road's continued closure was "without reason and undemocratic".
St Clair resident and surfer David Crooks, of the South Coast Board Riders organisation, told yesterday's Dunedin City Council annual plan hearings committee the road's continued closure had robbed surfers and the general public of car parking along much of John Wilson Ocean Dr.
That was placing additional pressure on already in-demand car parks elsewhere at St Kilda and St Clair, and meant some Dunedin surfers were discouraged from using the St Kilda and Lawyers Head areas.
Carparks, particularly around St Clair, used to be freely available, but were already in hot demand before the road's closure, due to new developments at St Clair and the growing popularity of surfing, he said.
There had been a "huge increase" in new surfers, boogie boarders and canoeists in Dunedin, and his 45-year-old club now boasted more than 100 members.
John Wilson Ocean Dr was closed to allow construction of the city's new 1.1km outfall pipe.
