Discussing $1 million plans for a jetty and land
reclamation project at Portobello on the Otago Peninsula
yesterday are (from left) Doug Lilly, Warren Morris, Shem
Sutherland, Les Neilsen, Bill Dickson, Lox Kellas and Greg
Sligo. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
Local knowledge came to the fore in Portobello yesterday
when community members discussed designs for a proposed $1
million multipurpose jetty.
Coastguard, boating club and community group representatives
consulted Dunedin City Council planning staff about issues
affecting use, including orientation of the main jetty, tidal
variation in water depth and prevailing winds on the harbour.
Under proposed plans, the existing wooden jetty would be
demolished and a longer jetty and two concrete boat ramps
installed.
A new Coastguard boat shed would be built and the existing
Portobello Boat Club shed relocated to the east, closer to
Portobello.
New structures would be on reclaimed land, and the shoreline
extended by several metres.
A 2m-wide footpath and 1.4m cycle lanes would be added to a
section of Portobello Rd, below Landreth Rd.
Coastguard member Lox Kellas said the jetty would lead to
increased access for maritime safety, recreational and
commercial vessels.
"[Consent funding] is a step in the right direction. If the
DCC approves plans and funding is sourced, it will be of
great benefit to community but would also allow Coastguard to
house a larger vessel and hold training and education courses
in the long term," he said.
The council had allocated about $20,000 to initiate the
resource consent, business development team leader Greg Sligo
said.
Master of the University of Otago research vessel Polaris
Bill Dickson suggested preliminary jetty designs be altered
to a "double pier" construction to lessen the risk of vessels
being stuck under the wharf structure on a rising tide.
Portobello Community Inc chairman Doug Neilsen said a new
jetty would allow increased recreational use of Latham Bay
and the Otago Harbour, and enable ferry access to the
peninsula from Port Chalmers, a service not offered since the
1950s.
"It could cut two hours off the trip of people arriving on a
cruise ship and then being bused to attractions on the
peninsula."
Resource consent would also have to be obtained from the
Otago Regional Council.
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