As far as you can go: The 660-metre Tolaga Bay Wharf has been closed following bad weather in January and will remain so until a reinspection is completed, says Gisborne District Council.
Picture supplied
Tolaga Bay Wharf remains closed with no opening date in sight as the wait continues for further engineering inspections.
The popular wharf has been closed since January because of severe weather in the region.
Gisborne District Council operations journeys manager Dave
Hadfield said a physical inspection under the wharf was required to reconfirm if there was any further damage.
“At this stage, with the volume of woody debris, swells, wind and prioritisation of structural engineers on to critical roading infrastructure . . . a reinspection has not yet been completed.”
The 660-metre wharf opened in 1929 and is widely regarded as the longest concrete structure of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
Previously used for trade, it is now a Heritage New Zealand site popular with tourists and fishers.
Last year it made headlines after its solitary solar-powered lamp was removed due to safety reasons. The wharf was also closed in 2020 due to Covid-19 physical distancing requirements.
