Privacy breaches upset resident

A sharp rise in visitor numbers to the world's steepest street has resulted in one Dunedin resident speaking out about tourists she says are walking on to her property and peering in the windows.

Baldwin St resident of 17 years Sharon Hyndman took her cause to a Dunedin City Council public forum yesterday.

She said some tourists had ''issues with the concept of privacy and private property''.

That meant she had people walking down her drive, on to her deck, and peering in her windows, once or twice a week.

''You would be frightened how often that happens,'' Mrs Hyndman said.

Others parked in her driveway, and did ''not always co-operate'' when asked to leave.

One man had even entered her property and stood on an outdoor table to take a photograph.

Mrs Hyndman told councillors the past couple of years had become ''particularly stressful'' as the number of tourists increased.

She had been interviewed by New Zealand and international media organisations about living on the well-publicised street, and had made sure she promoted ''what a great city Dunedin is''.

However, the increasing number of people visiting the street was an issue both for residents and tourists.

Visitors, often with limited driving ability, attempted to drive anything from camper vans to large SUVs or motorbikes up the street.

Once they reached the top, if they made it, they discovered there was no parking, a limited turning circle and plenty of pedestrians.

On one occasion, a motorbike rider trying to reach the top started rolling back down the hill, collecting other motorcycles behind him and pinning one rider under his machine.

It was not unusual for three or four busloads of tourists to be walking on the street where inadequate paths and stairs meant they wandered on to the road, where they sometimes sat or lay down and took photographs, which was not safe.

There was also a problem for residents during the Cadbury Jaffa Race, when they could not access their homes, and had to leave for five or six hours.

Mrs Hyndman called on the council to put more signs on Baldwin St and North Rd to warn people there was no turning and no parking on the street.

Her view, and she had not discussed it with neighbours, was the street should have residents-only parking where it was available, at the bottom of the street.

There should also be resident-only vehicle access as a deterrent to people driving up the street, and improved footpaths for the increased pedestrian numbers.

She said after the meeting she had raised the issue with Cr Conrad Stedman, and Mayor Dave Cull had visited to see the situation for himself.

Cr Stedman said last night he expected council staff would look into the issue to consider solutions.

david.loughrey@odt.co.nz