Issue date
Marina spokesperson, Jon Nicholson updates on their move to address the shortage of mooring space in the Kawau Bay area…
For many years there has been a chronic shortage of mooring space in the Kawau Bay area and south as far as the Mahurangi Harbour. In the Sandspit River there is a 20 year waiting list for moorings and that list has now been capped and the Council is no longer taking applications for moorings.
Because there didn't seem to be any Council effort to sort out this problem of the growing demand as more people move into the district to take advantage of the boating in the area, the Sandspit Yacht Club held a special general meeting in 2005 and decided to support a Club application for a marina in the Sandspit. An incorporated society, the Sandspit Yacht Club Marina Society, was formed to investigate the proposal and contributions sought from interested members to fund the investigation and Resource Consent. One hundred and thirty one members put money into the kitty and the process started with a feasibility study in 2005 which ultimately became a full blown Consent application in 2007.
After five years of often frustrating and always expensive effort the Sandspit Yacht Club Marina Society has finally reached a position where all the consents required have been granted and it can call for call for tenders for the construction of a marina in front of its clubhouse and haul out area in Sandspit. The tender prices are due in at the end of October, and then for the first time the Society will be able to accurately calculate the berth prices. The intention is to have these prices, plus the prospectus and other documents out to the contributors as soon as the numbers have been assembled. The Society would hope to see construction start early in the New Year.
Follow progress on www.sandspit.org.nz marina news. The Appeal Court decision and transcript is also on the site.
Image: Jon Graham and Phil continue to work tirelessly to get a marina for the yacht club. They are hoping for a technology update in the near future
