Police step in to keep marina safe

Police and security personnel have been clamping down on people sneaking through private property to get to Hobbs Wharf.

On three days – March 1, 2 and 4 – police were called to the newly developed marina area in Gulf Harbour. The marina is currently in the hands of Tim Downes, of receivers Grant Thornton.

"The site has a security fence around 80 per cent of the perimeter, the remaining 20 per cent has a walkway that leads to the water," says Sergeant Ian Price, of the Whangaparaoa police.

"It's a perfect swimming hole, but that's not the real problem.

"Teenagers started to throw things in the marina, such as logs and rubbish. They drift out and cause problems for other marina users. The actions of a few spoil it for everyone."

Mr Downes says youths break locks and cut holes in the fence to get through to the marina.

"I can understand why people want to swim there, but we are concerned about safety," he says.

"The worst-case scenario is someone has a bad accident and we get in a brawl because we didn't provide security or safety measures. For that reason we are making sure the site is as safe as it can be.

"There has also been some vandalism and some people have become reasonably aggressive toward onsite staff."

The receivers have now employed security guards who can issue trespass orders if people don't heed warnings.

"We don't really want that to happen, but if property is getting damaged we have to," Mr Price says.

"If youths make any threats or become aggravated we will deal with the situation. And if they don't listen to trespass notices then they can either be arrested or referred to Youth Aid."

- © Fairfax NZ News