AMBULANCE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CLIFF

I attended a local community meeting last night where the residents have concerns at the way that the council is rushing through district plan changes to allow up to 1,500 extra houses on new, smaller (500 square metre) sections.

There are a lot of concerned residents out this way who value the area's beauty, tourism potential (not always hand in hand), cultural and historical significance and I guess seclusion. There was some fierce debate with overall condemnation of the council's recklessness and further meetings will follow. I'm largely keeping out of it and will resist getting roped into being a member of a submissions committee as basically I think that change is inevitable and people need to live somewhere.

I was appalled though at the council's response to my question as to whether roading will be improved to accommodate extra traffic as 1,500 more houses can easily mean another 3,000 cars travelling the 30kms from town.

The windy and hilly road, while being repaired when needed is woefully inadequate for the current volume of traffic. It is rated as one of the most dangerous roads in Northland and cars frequently go off the road and end up in the tidal flats, down banks or wrapped around trees. There are no passing lanes or passing bays and with the combination of older and retired residents and younger holiday-makers, tail-gating, intolerance and road rage is becoming more prevalent. Unless something is done soon (and we have been making submissions on this) there will be more accidents and deaths on this road.

To get back to the council - the council representative at last night's meeting said that their position and that of the road board is that road improvements are indexed to road traffic so extra improvements, engineering and safety considerations will only happen once the volume of road use is increased. This 'chicken or the egg' or 'Catch 22' approach is ridiculous. The same council member agreed that property developers who wish to convert coastal land to new 50 plus house developments must ensure that sewage, water and other connections are in place to accomodate the extra but that improved roading is not in their mandate.

Bloody ridiculous.