A proposed swimming pontoon/jetty in the Mangawhai Harbour takes one step forward after Kaipara District Council agreed to allocate $10,000 to underwrite additional fees that might be associated with the resource consent process.
The pontoon was initiated in 2004 by the Safe Estuary Access Crew team, (a group of pupils from
Mangawhai Beach School) who came up with the solution as a safe alternative to children using the Insley Rd bridge to fish, and dive from. This practice is considered dangerous by many because the busy bridge is narrow and has no footpaths. The SEA Crew students won a national-problem solving competition with the idea and then took the project to the United States where they won second prize in the international competition.
Councillors heard at the December meeting the Maungaturoto and Districts Rotary Club is now sponsoring the project and has allocated $8000 for the cost of the resource consent. Because of the possibility the consent process could exceed the allocation Rotary approached council to underwrite any additional costs.
Project leader, Jim Taylor said the application process could be protracted and costly. Council's support, which is conditional on coastal permits and Reserves Act requirement being met, provides Rotary with certainty in being able to meet consent costs.
"The design has been evolving since 2004 and is now being finalised," Mr Taylor said. "We are hoping to lodge an application in early February. We already have blanket consent from iwi and once the design is finalised we will approach affected persons for their approval, which we hope will find favour with the majority."
An environmental report will be commissioned for the project, which is to be sited at the end of the Wood Street steps. This area is sheltered and free of boat moorings making it ideal for swimming.
The project is expected to cost around $120,000. Assembled in New Zealand from Australian made modules the pontoon is anchored to the beach at one end (just above high tide) and to the estuary at the other. It is proposed that funds will be raised from community and benevolent organisations, including the Mangawhai Endowment Fund and from community fundraising.
Mr Taylor said it is expected that once the consent has been lodged it could take around three months to process. "In the meantime we are of a mind to start lining up some funding," he said.
