The
Eastbourne Herald www.eastbourneherald.co.nz
Point Howard Wharf may be the one to go
27 April 2017
Ph 562 7500
Eastbourne, ANZAC Day 2017
by Louise Parry Point Howard Wharf could well be the casualty of Hutt City Council's plan to consolidate its spending on the four wharves within its jurisdiction. The council has been consulting on whether to retain or demolish Point Howard and Rona Bay Wharves. Days Bay and Petone Wharves are seen as strategic assets, are safe. At a meeting earlier this month, Eastbourne locals spoke of the historic appeal of Rona Bay Wharf, and its potential to draw tourists to the area. "Eastbourne without a wharf is like Paris without the Eiffel Tower," is how Eastbourne Community Board and Muritai Yacht Club member Murray Gibbons concluded the meeting. Council officers Craig Cotterill and Bruce Hodgins addressed the public, with engineer Tom Arthur from Calibre Consulting, who surveyed the wharves ahead of public consultation. All residents who spoke expressed concern that Rona Wharf, in particular, may be demolished. They spoke about the potential damage the removal of any or all of the wharves could do to Hutt City's aquifer, which Mr Arthur said had not been considered in his report. Many sited Rona Bay Wharf 's heritage and value as a transport hub in an emergency, along with its popularity as a venue for fishing, recreation, and as one of the few places for tourists to visit in Hutt City. MYC stalwart Wal Louden spoke of the danger removing the wharf would pose to the club, preventing as it did the majority of logs
Fewer people attended, but those who did were treated to a beautiful day at the ANZAC service in Eastbourne. Photos: Returned servicemen Ken Longmore, Roy Beeby and Greg Marsden pay tribute to the Rata Street memorial; San Antonio schoolchildren get ready to place their wreath .
and other debris being washed up the beach in a storm. However, Mr Cotterill said the council regularly had to clear the beach following a southerly storm, proving that Rona Bay Wharf afforded little protection to the club. Mr Louden said the wharf also played an important part in Eastbourne. "Rimu Street was extended through to the wharf. It would be sacrilegious to remove the wharf and have it stop dead on a sandy beach, " he said. A lot of people were angry that regular maintenance appeared to have been neglected on the wharves over the years, but Mr Hodgins
said the annual plan included a $400,000 to $500,000 fund every five years for maintenance. The council had recently agreed to bring its wharf survey forwards to every fourth year, he said. "We're not talking about a substantial amount of money," local resident Graeme Hall told the meeting. Elisa Mendzela agreed. "How much did the 'world class' bowling centre in Naenae cost, and how much would refurbishment of the wharves cost?" Mr Hodgins said the bowling centre, which recently had to have its steel framed roof support replaced when it was discovered it was the wrong Continues Page 2