Thieves steal old boat from project workers

Bernie Wills and Graham Taylor ferrying a seat in the boat, named Nuclear Chicken, stolen from Tanners Point.

A boat used to ferry materials around the shoreline reserve by volunteers from the Tanners Point Pestfree and Walkway Project has been stolen.

"This morning (Monday) we went down to the shore below 29 Moana Drive where we had the boat chained and padlocked to a big tree - it was gone," Project co-ordinator Heather Wills said.

"The chain has been cut through with bolt cutters. There were boot marks there so it's likely it was taken last night in the moonlight. They would have had to have carried some fairly large bolt cutters."

Mrs Wills said she and husband Bernie bought the leaky old boat several years ago.

"What we would like is the boat back because we need to ship the wood around this week."

"All it is used for is community work around the western side of Tanners Point. We added some drop down plastic wheels to the back of it so it was easier to pull up onto dry land after use."

The boat is a 12' Parkercraft named Nuclear Chicken, used by the volunteer group to ship materials around the shoreline when building boardwalks. They also ferried a large picnic table, made by Mr Wills and cabinet maker Graham Taylor and seats, around the walkways that the volunteers have developed for public enjoyment.

"It's quite a community effort. Now we've got materials to get round the reserve so we can build another stretch of boardwalk across some very wet ground ... seems there are some very miserable crims out there."

Mrs Wills said the boat is worth about $500, including the wheels, which is not a lot of money, but it's ideal for what the volunteers use it for.

"It's handy for big loads of wood and it's used to ferry plants and people who can't walk all the way round the reserve."

While the Wills have insurance they may not be able to claim with the boat being on the reserve when it was stolen.

"What we would like is the boat back because we need to ship the wood around this week."

The theft has been reported to police.

If anyone has any information, phone Heather Wills on 549-1389 or anonymously on freephone 0800 555 111.