Offroaders make tracks through cemetery

Off road joyriders are making tracks through Waikumete Cemetery.

Tracks are appearing in areas of Waikumete Cemetery similar to this one in the old Anglican section.

The after-hours activity has increased over the last few months since major weed clearing at the 107ha cemetery.

Four and front wheel drive vehicles have made deep ruts on hillsides in old areas of the cemetery.

Cemetery manager Graham Resnick says the cemetery, a favourite place for walkers, is being damaged by a careless minority.

“When you challenge them, they say, ‘no, we’re ratepayers’. So what do you do? We can’t block off the whole of the cemetery, although we will be blocking off some areas. 98 per cent of people have genuine reasons for being at the cemetery. It’s the yahoos who are treating it like a racetrack, “says Mr Resnick.

Henderson police are investigating reports of a red Toyota car seen in the cemetery after hours (in summer the gates close at 8.30pm).

There is no shortage of Council bylaws to prevent this activity.

Waikumete is a reserve under the Reserves Act and there is a local purpose (cemetery) reserve.

Cemetery bylaw (4.35) prohibits people riding or driving vehicles in the cemetery, other than to attend a funeral or visit graves.

The speed limit in the cemetery (Parks and Reserves bylaw 1711) is 16km/h and bylaw 1712.1 prevents motor vehicles being driven without “due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using…the reserve.”

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