Issue date
The longer days are constant reminders that summer is on its way and clubs in the central region are all working hard getting ready for the upcoming season.
Three clubs in particular have major projects going on: the Waitara Boating Club are in the middle of a major refurbishment of their existing clubrooms, the Worser Bay Boating Club are well down the track with planning of their total rebuild of their clubrooms and Sailability Wellington and the Titahi Bay Boating Club are getting closer to securing the final funding to build a new jetty in front of the existing club to enable easier launching and retrieval of boats.
Waitara Boating Club refurbishment
The Waitara Boating Club are in the process of a major refurbishment of their club, which already has a new roof and the concrete pad down for the new storage area and deck off the upstairs part of the club. The upgrade will see a new kitchen, relining of the walls, new entrance way and a new main door to the yacht storage area. As Sailability Taranaki operate and are closely aligned to the Waitara club, accessible toilets and showers are going in as well as a disabled access ramp to the upstairs part of the club. Hopefully building will be completed in the early part of the season. A big thanks to the Taranaki Electricity Trust and TSB Community Trust for their assistance with this major project.
Sailability Wellington Trust’s Porirua community jetty project - an update
Developments to Date
An affiliation was formed between the Titahi Bay Boating Club and Sailability Wellington Trust that acknowledges the intention of Sailability Wellington to be long-term members of the club, and to construct a jetty for their purposes. This jetty would also serve the boating club, their other affiliates and all other harbour users.
With the help of engineers and designers, a plan for a jetty which will last for at least 50 years has been produced at some cost, (natural disasters may intervene). The cost for this design work has come from Plimmerton Rotary and the IHC Foundation.
The Titahi Bay Boating Club and Sailability Wellington have support from the Porirua Council and local Iwi and are confident applications to build from Porirua City and Greater Wellington Regional Council would be successful.
Publicity
Sailability Wellington have been successful in making their desire for the success of this project known. They met with the Minister for Disabilities Issues, local MPs and the mayor of Porirua. They had a significant article in the Kapi-Mana news and also been on TV1 news. Their trust prepared a Givealittle campaign and printed brochures, with more than 500 of those sent out.
The objectives
As well as providing opportunities for people with disabilities in Porirua, it seems sensible to develop a centre that will include members from Kapiti and Horowhenua as well.
For Sailability, this would become their most significant regional centre, as Onepoto hill provides shelter from the prevailing northerly winds. Indeed, they have already made use of the existing Porirua jetty when conditions on Wellington harbour made it too dangerous to sail. When the southerly winds prevent use of Porirua harbour, they can move the day’s programme to Seaview or Evans Bay.
Fundraising
The building budget for the jetty and pontoon is $150,000, including contingencies. Sailability Wellington have received a number of significant grants to date, including $8500 from the Racing Board’s gaming trust; $8500 from Bart’s Bash Trust, (based in the UK); $10,000 from Pelorus Trust; $10,000 from Pub Charity; $5000 from The Trusts Community Trust and $4000 from the Hutt Mana Energy Trust, but are still well short of their goal.
Their next step is to apply to the Facilities Fund of the Lotteries Commission. In the meantime, Sailability Wellington's Don Manning said they will take every opportunity to go sailing on any day when the Wellington weather will allow.
The Titahi Bay club members have also been busy putting a new roof on the club and clearing a spot for the Sailability container to be housed there.
Worser Bay Boating Club rebuild
The Worser Bay Boating Club are well advanced with planning for the rebuild of their clubrooms. All detailed design work has been completed, resource and building consents have been issued and the club have been to the market for quotes for the construction work.
Wellington City Council has commissioned engineers to design a new ramp, rigging area, breastwork and rock revetment around the carpark. Work has also begun on a project to develop a regional youth and schools programmes that will be delivered out of the new building once it is complete.
“We are working hard to secure the final funding so we can push go on the project and, if all goes to plan, then we will get underway at the end of this coming sailing season,” said Worser Bay Boating Club commodore Dean Stanley.
