Proposal to Change Pencarrow Road Policy for Vehicle Use
The Pencarrow Coast Road is a popular stretch of road for walkers, runners and cyclists who enjoy its remoteness, limited vehicle numbers, rugged coastline and scenery.
It is not a legal road. Its primary purpose is to carry and provide access for the main wastewater pipe carrying Hutt City and Upper Hutt treated sewage to the outfall at Pencarrow Head.
Since 1998 access and vehicle movements along the road have been controlled by the Pencarrow Coast Road Policy for Vehicle Use.
The objective of the Policy is to manage vehicle use of the road to:
• Minimise impact on the environment and existing users, including recreational walkers and cycylists; and
• Protect Council’s assets in the area which include the main outfall sewer.
The Policy sets out who has access along the road and controls vehicle numbers through the issuing of permits.

The owners of Pencarrow Lodge in Fitzroy Bay have approached Hutt City Council to request a review of the Policy to allow more flexibility around the booking of permits and an assurance that their business will not be affected by the vehicle movements of other users in the event of the daily quota being filled.
Hutt City Council proposes to review the Pencarrow Road Vehicle Use Policy to:
1. Increase the quota for commercial users (Category B users) from 5 to 10 movements per day; and
2. Change Pencarrow Lodge’s classification from Category B to Category A user.
This means that Pencarrow Lodge would not be subject to the daily quota of vehicles permitted to use the road.
Hutt City Council is seeking public submissions on the proposed changes and is conducting an online survey to gauge public response.
Submissions and surveys close 5pm 29 February 2012.
The Statement of Proposal: Proposal To Review Pencarrow Coast Road Vehicle Use Policy is available on Hutt City Council’s website www.huttcity.govt.nz, or at Council offices and libraries.
Submissions and/or surveys should be sent to “Pencarrow Coast Road Consultation, Hutt City Council, Private Bag 30407, Lower Hutt 5040” or emailed to PCR@huttcity.govt.nz.
The online survey is available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5LLRT76.

If you are a user of the Pencarrow Coast Road and enjoy the recreational amenities and values it provides, you should make your views known.
Any increase in vehicle movements along the road will have adverse effects on its present character.
The proposal provides no data to demonstrate that an increase in the daily quota is called for.
The proposal to change the policy to grant one operator unrestricted access along the road for commercial purposes creates a precedent that other landholders could expect to follow, making it very difficult for the Council to regulate vehicle numbers on the road.
Hutt City Council is hosting a public meeting to discuss the proposal and hear community views.
7 pm Thurs 15th Feb
ESSC Clubrooms
Tuatoru St Eastbourne

Update
Please note the Public Meetingis Thurs 16th Feb at 7 pm, not 15th Feb as wrongly advised.
The meeting is in the Eastbourne Sports and Services Clubrooms in Shortt Park off Tuatoru St Eastbourne.