The historic Mercury Bay Boating Club in Whitianga needs to be picked up and moved almost immediately, to protect it from erosion.
Cyclone Hale brought fierce tides to Coromandel that quickly scoured away three metres of the bank that supports the boathouse.
The club's commodore Jonathan Kline says the efforts of a team of local volunteers yesterday ensured the building would survive.
However, the impact of the storm meant a more permanent solution was needed as soon as possible.
While the seas were much calmer today there was no lessening in the sense of urgency the club was feeling, he told Morning Report.
"Over the course of two or three high tide cycles we had devastating effects. We lost not only three to four metres of bank in front of the club but we also lost the time that we had set aside to make a staged effort to pick up our building and move it back."
Photo: Mercury Bay Boating Club, Coromandel.
A process that could have spanned a year to 18 months must now take place almost immediately.
Kline says after the worst of the high tides on Tuesday night he felt "crushed".
The club had successfully built up its junior and adult sailing programmes in the last five years.
"We've been successful ... we were on such a great trajectory but all the time we knew the sea was chewing away.
"When I went back to the club on Wednesday morning it was utter devastation there and I knew at that point we had to do something because the building was going to fall into the sea."
The clubhouse which is on a council reserve was designed to be moveable in the case of erosion.
In the late 90s when it was erected there was around 16 metres of land in front of it.
"I don't think anyone could have imagined then we would lose so much ground over a relatively short time."
He had been buoyed by the amazing response from the community who had brought everything from spades to machinery to help save the building.
Kline says the clubhouse may have to be moved twice - first out of harm's way and then to a final location once consents have been approved.
The club was working closely with the Thames-Coromandel District Council and Waikato Regional Council.
"We're trying to understand with our council and surveyors as to whether we can move the building in one go or do we have to move it in two goes where we get it out of harm's way first and then finish the consent before the building site can be accessed," Kline says.
A Givealittle crowdfunding campaign has been started for cyclone relief for the Mercury Bay Boating Club, with a goal of raising $200,000.
5 comments
Given...
Posted on 12-01-2023 16:09 | By morepork
... that the ocean seems to be intent on devouring land at a faster rate than ever before, given that land is increasingly expensive, given that the cost of moving buildings is becoming more expensive, and given that a yachting club has close connections with the sea, why not get a large industrial barge, move the building onto that, then anchor it securely and refit the club HQ on it? Floating restaurants, yacht clubs, and marine service facilities are popular from Phuket to Jeddah, to the Costa Del Sol. (Phuket are proposing a barge as a base, so it must be feasible...). Certainly worth taking a look at...
@morepork
Posted on 12-01-2023 17:37 | By Slim Shady
The “anchor it securely” bit intrigues me, given the oceans ability to unsecure anything it sees fit. I think it could become a floating restaurant. Floating out to sea.
Local council
Posted on 12-01-2023 19:12 | By Womby
Hang your head in shame They spent $6000 I think on large concrete blocks to keep the water at bay and you denied them the chance to stop the erosion that occurred to Your land that they lease Land that is now lost to the sea I don’t understand the thought process that went on The concrete blocks could have been lifted out again after the storm if it was against the rules but now many metres of land has gone due to bad thinking, in my opinion, and I reckon many ordinary kiwis
@Slim Shady.
Posted on 16-01-2023 11:31 | By morepork
I agree that the power of the ocean cannot be underestimated. (I am a Yachtmaster and spent some years sailing in Europe...). However, my point was that there are many places on Earth where they have already done this (or, like Phuket, are in the process of doing it on a large scale.) It is a question of risk. The cost of eroding land and moving buildings is far more than the cost of securing a barge, but there is always a residual (minimal) risk of the barge floating out to sea. At least it could be recovered. If the current building goes into the ocean there will be no recovery. It should be considered as an option.
@Womby
Posted on 16-01-2023 11:35 | By morepork
The war between land and sea is a foregone conclusion and the sea always wins. The best we can do is slow the process with breakwaters and blocks. I agree that the club should have been supported in protecting their land, but it's always easy with hindsight...
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.