Pontoon replaces jetty

The 50 year old jetty in the Kotuku reserve off Plummers Point Road has been replaced with a pontoon expected to serve boaties, fishers and swimmers for at least another 50 years.

The piles were failing on the old jetty due to worm, and the last annual inspection showed signs of decay in the bearers as well, says Western Bay of Plenty District Council reserves and facilities manager, Peter Watson.


Fishers trying out the new platform. Photos: Brian Rogers.

'It was past its use by date.”

The council undertook some consultation with users through Waterline Magazine, the local boating club and modified the design to achieve the replacement, which is a pontoon.

'We worked with the regional council because they had their tide measuring device on there as well,” says Peter.

Overall project costs including professional fees and consents, construction was about $270,000. The result is a floating pontoon held in place by plastic covered steel piles. It was brought around from Tauranga by barge last week.

'We've also put a couple of ladders off the end of it as well,” says Peter. 'It creates a good platform for fishing but the primary purpose is for boaties loading and unloading, for those that have got boats moored out there.

'We have just got a light to go up to finish off the project now.”

Council staff conduct annual inspections of all coastal marine assets; wharves, jetties, boat ramps and sea walls, says Peter.

'It's a very aggressive environment the coastal marine area.”

That's why there are annual inspections. They were able to monitor the previous jetty and kept it in operation as long as they could, before it needed to be replaced.

He's not sure what's next for repair or replacement.

'We put together a programme that we are putting up to the 2015-2025 long term plan so then council go through that.”

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