Harbour Landing Refurbishment In the Wind

Last year we had a couple of jet-skis pay a very brief visit to our Oamaru harbour during the course of their anticlockwise circumnavigation of New Zealand, Auckland to Auckland.

Today, particularly with an abundance of back-up and onshore assistance, a maritime circuit of the country would be somewhat less demanding than it would have been in the 1970s when a 45 foot (13.7 metre) launch carrying out a circuit of the South Island called at Oamaru for a day or so visit.

Ralph. S. Von Kohorn, in his immaculate motor cruiser 'Colombia', on completion of his South Island circuit, immediately planned and carried out a successful clockwise circuit of the North Island which then completed, in a figure of eight, his circumnavigation of New Zealand in a motor launch.

During his Oamaru stay many interested local people were made very welcome aboard this well-appointed John Lidgard constructed vessel, which was conveniently berthed at the 'landing', generally referred to in those days as Stronach's landing, situated at the western end of Holmes wharf.

Visiting vessels requiring some privacy while anchored in the harbour beyond the buoyed swinging basin, while those keen to meet the locals and display their boats, used the Holmes wharf landing. It also had a pontoon associated with it which made it ideal for visiting boats and for shore-based people either visiting or just viewing.

This landing site, the only deep-ish water one within our harbour, has been steadily decaying over the years. In 2004, a group of swing mooring holders had plans drawn for the refurbishment of this landing, including a replacement pontoon, and these plans plus an offer of voluntary labour input for the project was presented to the Waitaki District Council. This proposal, although having the support of several senior council staff, was unfortunately rejected on the grounds that there was a lack of finance and/or possible non-acceptance by some harbour users. It was to be looked at again in 2005/6 but has, like many harbour maintenance jobs, simply slid into oblivion. This is a pity because a reasonable pontoon style deep-water landing is a definite asset to any harbour, large or small.

Graeme Ferris