Quiet season for beach ranger

HIMATANGI Beach ranger Elaine Pinker has just experienced her quietest holiday season at the popular swimming location after a buildup of soft sand hampered vehicle access to the beach frontage.

But this didn’t mean there wasn’t anything else for Elaine to do as the large crowds who visited on the “good” days kept her on full alert with other traffic-related activities, directional requests and some unsociable behavior.

“Beach activity certainly changed this season through the buildup of sand from the winter storms,” she said, “with little vehicle activity compared to other years. There have been some instances of bad behavior, but nothing like in the past.”

Elaine, now into her seventh season as the beach ranger, said with a lot of sand on the move it had become much higher than the Koputara Stream, which wound out through the beach. This meant water seepage was not enough to provide the necessary wet sand needed for vehicle activity.

“Cars have to keep near the Koputara, where the wet sand is, to get onto the front of the beach, but people parking on the edges hamper that access, as well as a big log washed up alongside the stream.”

Elaine spent Boxing Day and December 27 advising drivers not to take their cars onto the beach as there was no way through and nowhere to turn around. But many people ignored the advice, and some warning signs (before they were vandalised), and at one stage up to 80 cars had to be dug out in a one-hour period.

“Things did become a little crazy and there were several nose-to-tail accidents, as well as a tractor versus a ute. People would get stuck, gun the motor a bit to get free, but swing sideways into the vehicle alongside.”

Elaine said the motorbikes and four-wheel drives that did make it onto the beach were generally well behaved, though some cars driven up from Foxton Beach had caused problems with excessive speed and show-off antics. A violent drunken incident involving the inhabitants of a car had also upset beachgoers.

“Because I’m down there most of the time there is a good network of information coming in,” she said, “and it’s not just about the beach but other things in the village as well.”

She said a police presence, headed by Foxton senior constable, Chris Barclay, had again been invaluable, and she enjoyed helping to keep Himatangi Beach a safe and welcoming environment.

Community Services Group Manager Brent Limmer said the beach ranger role was one that helped lift people’s awareness on possible traffic safety issues at the beach.

“Elaine does an excellent job and for council it is certainly a role that we value,” he said.