Aramoana League keen on proposal for new wharf

A campaign to maintain a wharf at Aramoana has taken a step forward, with the completion of concept plans for a new wharf at the location of the century-old pilot's wharf.

Aramoana League member John Davis said he was disappointed the majority of the old wharf could not be salvaged, but was keen to have a new wharf in the same location.

''There may be some timber high up that can be reused, but the piles themselves are so bad that once it gets touched, we think it will fall over, anyway,'' Mr Davis said.

The plans drawn up by engineers from Spiire (formerly CPG New Zealand) in Dunedin propose a new wharf, which would extend 6m further out into the harbour to give better access for vessels at low tide.

The engineers estimated the wharf could be built for $100,000, but Mr Davis was keen for a firm costing before beginning any fundraising efforts.

Further progress could be made once the cost was confirmed with engineers Port Otago and it was assessed whether the necessary funds could be raised.

''If it's beyond our means, well I don't know where we will go from there.''

The trust would ''rely heavily on Port Otago'', which was most likely the only organisation with the equipment to build the wharf and would also have to approve extending it 6m.

Mr Davis said the existing structure would likely have been able to be kept had it been maintained in the years since 1989, when it was transferred to the Dunedin City Council.

The council had not carried out maintenance work on the wharf since then, because it was unaware it owned it until 2010. Council staff last year recommended it be demolished but councillors deferred a vote until other options were investigated.

- vaughan.elder@odt.co.nz