Fireworks bans set to explode
Fireworks bans are likely to be extended to more Eastern Bays suburbs over Guy Fawkes weekend in a bid to stop unsafe behaviour.
The cost of imposing the ban could total more than $50,000, but councillor Toni Millar says that far outweighs the medical costs of treating injured people, as well as the tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars spent cleaning up the mess."The amount of legally sold fireworks has doubled every year over the past three years. That's not to mention illegal fireworks sold," she says.
"The problem with having it in a public place is people congregate together.
"One bit of bad behaviour stimulates another bit of bad behaviour."
Ms Millar says letterboxes have been blown up, and she even caught someone on St Johns Rd shooting skyrockets from the footpath at passing cars.
St Heliers fire station officer Craig Jones says Guy Fawkes is their busiest time.
He says the problems died down slightly when skyrockets were banned, but the increase in legal fireworks has sparked further trouble.
"It's causing more fires. There's always the danger of people misusing them." he says.
Mr Jones says a lot of callouts are to reserves and beaches where people meet.
In the two weeks around last year's Guy Fawkes, St John staff in St Heliers, Mt Wellington and Tamaki attended two burn injuries.
One patient was a 13-year-old boy who had a burnt upper thigh, and the other, a 34-year-old man, had fireworks explode in his eyes.
Both were taken to Auckland hospital but their injuries weren't life-threatening.
Ms Millar wants the ban extended for a month, not just the weekend of Guy Fawkes, for public safety and injury prevention.
The ban will apply from November 3 to 6 and is likely to include Watene Reserve, Orakei Domain, Whenua Rangatira and Okahu Bay beach and foreshore, Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Reserve, Selwyn Domain in Mission Bay, Kohimarama Beach, Vellenoweth Green, St Heliers Bay, Ladies Bay, Achilles Pt, Glover Park, Madills Farm and Tahuna Torea Nature Reserve.
The Eastern Bays Community Board has recommended the fireworks ban extension to the arts, culture and recreation committee and is waiting on a decision.
Police and security guards will enforce the ban over Guy Fawkes weekend and there will be signs warning people of the ban.
East And Bays Courier