Port Otago has been granted consent by the Dunedin City Council to construct a station, including solar-powered cameras and weather station, on Quarantine Island/Kamau Taurua.
In its non-notified application to the council, Port Otago said the station would produce visual guidance to vessels navigating the ‘‘relatively narrow gap with a fast-flowing current’’ between Goat Island/Rakiriri and Quarantine Island.
While two navigation aids, known as leading lights, and a weather station were installed between the islands, they could not give an accurate measure of wind speed or direction for taller-sided vessels.
There had been several instances of vessels, unable to see around the islands, encountering other vessels coming the other way through the channel.
This presented a ‘‘critical risk to navigation’’, which the station would address, the port said.
Cameras, weather station, solar panels and control cabinets would be mounted on a 3m-tall pole, set into a concrete pad.
The pole and cabinets, to be finished in a dark green to blend into the landscape, and other major pieces of equipment would taken to the island by helicopter.
After installation, a 1000sq m area around the station would be planted in native species.
A port spokeswoman said the station would be used for navigation safety purposes for commercial shipping and would be utilised by Port Otago and the Harbourmasters Office.
Work was expected to take 10 weeks and be complete in April.
