Banks Peninsula council candidate Dave Dunlay says a community-led task force is working to tackle years of road noise, speed, and safety concerns around Lyttelton Harbour.
Dunlay, who has lived on Brittan Terrace for more than 20 years, said the disruption has gone on long enough.
“The noise has been relentless late-night burnouts, engines revving, and exhausts echoing across the harbour. It’s not just an annoyance; it disrupts sleep, creates stress, and really eats into people’s wellbeing. After two decades of this, I’ve reached the point where I know something has to change, not just for me, but for all the families living around the harbour,” he said.
At a public meeting last week, residents from Lyttelton through to Governors Bay turned out to discuss launching a task force and a fundraising campaign.
They plan to hire a portable speed camera to run a trial, gathering evidence of boy racers’ illegal activity.
Dunlay said the task force is community-driven, supported by police, local MP Dr Vanessa Weenink, and advice from the Belfast Residents’ Association, which has already trialled portable cameras.
Residents are preparing to raise $4,300 to fund the cameras.
“At our first meeting, we had a terrific turnout and strong support, with many people signing up to help straight away. We’ll announce fundraising details next week, and from the energy in the room, I’m very positive the community will back this,” Dunlay said.
The portable cameras are calibrated to European standards and have already led to prosecutions in Belfast. Dunlay said the evidence they collect will provide hard data on speed, times, and locations.
“That evidence will be vital in working with police, council, and the NZ Transport Agency to push for stronger enforcement and smarter solutions. If we can show this works around Lyttelton Harbour, it could be replicated across Christchurch and then Canterbury.”
He said his commitment to the issue is not dependent on the election outcome.
“If I’m elected, my first step will be to make sure council gets behind this initiative and provides the support communities need. If I’m not elected, I’ll still be right here, working with residents, councillors, and the community board to keep the momentum going.”
Banks Peninsula MP Vanessa Weenink said the meeting was well attended and useful.
“Residents are mostly concerned and bothered by the noise of cars and motorbikes around the inner bays. Also, they are concerned about safety for locals on the roads and for the deaths and injuries that occur to the boy racers themselves.
“The taskforce consists of residents from Governors Bay, as well as Dave Dunlay. Others were invited to participate and the chair of the Lyttelton Business Association offered to help through having the taskforce come under their umbrella. Then the fundraising can begin properly, possibly through using a platform like Givealittle.
“Cameras that can be moved around are more effective because static detection systems quickly get known and are avoided. By having less predictability, more people can be caught. One of the reasons for doing this is also to be able to show the extent of the problem and help NZTA and police in their operational planning.”
She said the project is modelled off one in Belfast that was “very successful.”
