Missing pile at wharf on Napier’s inner harbour could bring forward replacement work

The replacing of an aged Napier fishing wharf closed because of the disappearance of one of its piles could be brought forward if an assessment shows it cannot be safely used again.

The Customs Quay wharf, which accommodates up to four commercial vessels near the Iron Pot in Napier’s inner harbour and was for years popular for fish which could be purchased directly from boats, was closed suddenly to vessels, vehicles and people on Wednesday after a low-tide inspection confirmed what had been reported by a member of the public a few days earlier, Napier City Council says.

The Iron Pot fishing discharge wharf and the area that's now off-limits while structural assessment takes place following the discovery a pile was missing.

The commercial fishing fleet was advised mooring at the wharf was out and operators would need to make alternative arrangements.

The wharf is used to unload catches for around half of the commercial fleet, and “temporary replacement facilities are being established so these operations can continue while the wharf is out of action”, the council says.

It is part of an area where the Napier council has been planning for new work to take place, which is included in its Three-Year Plan.

The piles have “a little larger diameter than a standard fencepost” and are driven into the seabed and connected to the beam with metal bracings, the council says.

“There is no evidence of it having being damaged by a vessel or on purpose,” a statement says. “The timber is well-aged hardwood and is very difficult to cut, so it would blunt a standard chainsaw chain very quickly.”

The underside of the fishing discharge wharf, missing a pile.

A social media post announcing the closure on Wednesday said it was “effective immediately“, as a pile was “missing” and a structural assessment was needed.

“For public safety, all access to the wharf will be restricted until further notice,” it continued, advising boat operators to seek an alternative berth.

The council is engaging specialist marine structure consultants to assess the level of risk and develop a response, which will either be repairs or a replacement of the wharf structure.

“The wharf is known to be towards the end of its practical life, and the draft Three-Year Plan has allowed for renewal in the first four years,” it said. “This may have to be brought forward, subject to the findings of the engineering assessments.”

The area is just off the popular West Quay bar and restaurant row, with the road through the quay corner area already closed to traffic during the dismantling of a tower crane on a construction site.