Locals will be ‘in the poo’ if road collapses

Matt from Henderson

As in the Article on Thursday 4 July 2019

‘‘It’s disgraceful that we have to deal with this on a daily basis. ’’Bobbie Carroll Frustrated by the state of a popular winding beach road, a resident has taken it on themselves to draw giant penises on the road to get local authorities’attention. At least 10 penises showed up at the weekend on Piha Rd on Auckland’s west coast, at several key locations of the ‘‘collapsing road’’ where it was uneven, and at sharp corners.Residents of the beachside community are finding the visual protest amusing. Local Bobbie Carroll said no-one knew who the culprit was.Auckland Transport said it was clearly the work of someone who has‘‘too much time on their hands’’.

Helensville MP Chris Penk said the graphic protest was probably over the delayed timelines of fixing West Auckland roads.‘‘I think it’s brilliant, our road is collapsing and nothing’s been done about it,’’ Carroll said.She said she noticed the spray-painted phallic drawing done on Saturday.She believed it was to protest Piha’s deteriorating road,which was in desperate need of attention.The road was collapsing after four recent slips and cars traveling uphill struggled, often driving towards the centre line or on the opposite lane, to get up safely.‘‘I have an MX-5 car and I can’t drive it on the road because it punches the bottom of the car.‘‘It’s disgraceful that we have to deal with this on a daily basis.The road is in absolute poor
condition.

’’She said it was impossible for any vehicle to drive on Piha Rd without crossing the centre line.‘‘It’s never been this bad. If the road collapses, we’re in the poo.’’Auckland Transport spokes-man Mark Hannan said the vandalism on the road was blacked out on Monday and would be blasted during the week to permanently remove it.‘‘Someone has too much time on their hands and may want to reflect on the extra cost that their actions have imposed on local ratepayers,’’ Hannan said. Penk, a National MP, said there was often underlying frustration about road maintenance timeliness in West Auckland.‘‘I’d certainly suggest that constituents at least attempt to contact AT in the first instance, however.

’’Hannan said Auckland Trans-port was planning extensive work on Piha Rd from just above the lookout to the beginning of Seaview Rd.‘‘The road surface is in a poor state and there are four slips that need urgent attention.’’Work was likely to begin in early 2020, Hannan said.

Matt