Urgent clearing of Wharf Street boat ramp this weekend
Published on 16 December 2022
Wharf Street boat ramp at low tide with silt
From this Saturday 17 December, an excavator has been brought in to clear the Wharf Street boat ramp of sediment, ensuring essential river access for Whanganui’s Coastguard vessel.
The emergency works, managed by the Whanganui Port Operating Company and with funding from Whanganui District Council, will be carried out over a period of two to three days.
“Due to the build-up of silt on the boat ramp, we are concerned the Whanganui Coastguard boat will have issues trying to launch for emergencies,” says Whanganui Port’s project manager Phil Wardale.
“That is a huge health and safety risk for our community, particularly as we come into the busy summer holiday period when large numbers of recreational craft take to the awa.”
The works will also improve access for recreational boaties, creating a safer, more accessible slipway.
Cashmore Contracting will be undertaking the work, based from their Heads Road yard, and utilising their ‘long reach’ excavator. The excavator will be situated on the ramp and alongside the ramp to clear sediment from around the boat ramp area. The sediment will then be loaded on to waiting trucks and transported to Castlecliff where it will be allowed to dry before being used in some dune replenishment projects in 2023.
The use of Cashmore’s long reach excavator means the work can be carried out during all tides, with a focus on the boat ramp during low tides.
“During this period of works, access to the boat ramp will be possible, although limited,” says Phil Wardale.
“We ask boaties to be patient and expect delays in launching and retrieval.”
Whanganui District Council chief executive David Langford is pleased a solution to the silt removal could be found, with the Council funding the works while the Port Company’s dredging barge awaits repairs.
“This work is being completed to allow emergency launching and retrieval of the Coastguard vessel from the ramp, it was essential we get it done now, rather than wait for the barge to be repaired,” he says.
“This does mean there is small additional cost involved, but it is more important that we act quickly and look after the safety of our community.”
Additional dredging will be completed by early February when the dredging barge is returned to service. This additional dredging will cover the areas the ‘long reach’ land-based excavator will be unable to reach.
Whanganui Coastguard President Garry Hawkins is relieved to learn the works are to be carried out.
“A few weeks ago we approached the Port Operating Company, Horizons and Whanganui District Council with our concerns because at the moment we are having to launch the Coastguard vessel from the Putiki slipway during low tides,” he says.
“When time is of the essence, having to make that long trip to launch could potentially have dire consequences, so this is excellent news.”
Meanwhile, Jurgens will continue with demolition works at the neighbouring port site until Christmas, with some works required through to the end of the year.
Media contact
For further information, contact:
Kate Ritani
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