A major community fundraising effort is gathering momentum to replace Waihau Bay’s ageing jetty and upgrade its heavily used boat ramp, with the project expected to provide a significant boost to the coastal community.

The Waihau Bay Infrastructure and Facilities Charitable Trust has set its sights on raising $1 million to rebuild the approximately 60-year-old jetty and refurbish the existing three-lane boat ramp.

The trust’s fundraising material describes the proposed jetty as stronger, safer and compliant with current building requirements, while the boat ramp upgrade is designed to improve its durability and accommodate the demands of a busy and growing coastal destination.

Former Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters is serving as secretary-treasurer of the trust and says a considerable amount of work has taken place behind the scenes before the fundraising campaign could properly get under way.

“The fundraiser is being organised by a group of trustees, and I have been appointed secretary treasurer,” Winters said.

“We have been working behind the scenes for the last 18 months organising trust deeds, engineering consent and ensuring everything complies with codes.”

The trust is now working through the final stages of its regional council consent, with the intention of having tenders available by the end of September.

Winters said the aim was to tender the jetty and boat ramp work as a single project, reducing the need to bring heavy machinery into Waihau Bay twice.

“We hope the fundraiser will really take off once we have all these details clarified for people,” he said.

The project has already received backing from Ōpōtiki District Council, which Winters said had provided $200,000 in seed funding.

He said feedback from the community had been overwhelmingly positive, with many people saying the upgrades were long overdue. The Waihau Bay Sports Fishing Club has also backed the project after the proposal was presented at its annual general meeting. Once the tendering process is complete, the trust plans to increase its fundraising campaign through a dedicated Facebook page and newsletter.

The boat ramp upgrade is expected to be particularly noticeable for local and visiting boat users.

Winters said the ramp would be extended by another five metres at the toe, helping reduce erosion associated with power loading by larger boats.

That work will be significant for a facility that can see up to 200 boats a day during the peak season, he says.

The trust’s plans form part of a wider vision for Waihau Bay, where increased visitor numbers have placed additional pressure on local facilities.

Ōpōtiki District Council’s Waihau Bay Masterplan identifies an upgraded boat ramp and existing jetty among the proposed improvements for the waterfront, alongside parking, navigational safety and other amenity upgrades. The masterplan was developed through consultation with Te Whānau-a-Pararaki, the Waihau Bay Sports Fishing Club and the wider community.

Te Whānau a Pararaki, a hapū of Te Whānau-ā-Apanui, also has an important role in the future management of the boat ramp. Under the Te Whānau-ā-Apanui Treaty settlement arrangements, public access to the ramp is to continue, with the hapū able to restrict access for reasonable periods for reasons including cultural activities and maintenance.

For Winters, getting the project right is just as important as getting it built.

“One of the most important aspects is ensuring everything is done right procedure wise and we take our time to dot all our i’s and cross all our t’s with this and create something that can withstand anything Mother Nature throws at it for generations to come,” he said.

He believes the completed project could also play a role in the economic future of the area.

“We want to create something that can really boost economic development for the region.”

The fundraising campaign follows another major community project with which Winters has been involved – the restoration of the historic Raukōkore Church.

Winters remains involved with the Raukōkore Anglican Church Restoration and Preservation Trust, which has worked to restore the Category 1 heritage building. Ōpōtiki District Council records show Winters was involved with the project from its early fundraising efforts, with the community and a range of organisations supporting the restoration.

With the jetty and boat ramp project moving towards the tendering stage, the next challenge will be getting the wider community behind the trust’s $1 million fundraising goal.

The trust says donations are essential to getting the new structures “out on the water”, with fundraising details and contact information available through the Waihau Bay Infrastructure and Facilities Charitable Trust.