Plans to rebuild the Waihau Bay jetty and refurbish its three-lane boat ramp have cleared a major hurdle, with building and resource consents now approved and fundraising efforts set to ramp up.

The Waihau Bay Infrastructure and Facilities Charitable Trust (WBIFCT) is working to deliver the two projects as part of its wider Waihau Bay Master Plan, with construction targeted for March to June 2027.

Trust representative Kevin Winters says the approvals mark a significant milestone after months of consultation and planning.

“The ducks are lining up nicely and they are big ducks. From the first conversation on this project to this point has been about 18 months of consultation with council and everyone else involved,” he said.

“The structures being in the Marine and Coastal Area Zone means regulations are very strict and getting consent approved has meant double checking every detail of the project and a lot of discussions and consulting with the local community.”

The trust has worked with Ōpōtiki District Council, Te Whānau-a-Pararaki hapū, Tamatari Enterprises (Orete Incorporation), local commercial fishers and the Waihau Bay Sport Fishing Club committee throughout the process.

Under the arrangements for the project, Tamatari Enterprises will hold the consent for the jetty, while Te Whānau-a-Pararaki will be responsible for the boat ramp consent.

Both groups will also be responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of their respective structures once built, which will be available for use by locals and the wider public.

The boat ramp refurbishment will involve a 200mm-thick overlay of double-reinforced 30MPa concrete, along with a five-metre extension at the foot of the ramp.

The finished structure will measure 40 metres by 12 metres, with work planned around the tides.

The jetty and ramp projects were initially expected to cost about $1 million, but following the receipt of two tenders, the estimate has risen to closer to $1.2 million.

The trust intends to complete both projects at the same time to avoid the expense of bringing heavy construction equipment to the site twice. Ōpōtiki District Council has already provided $200,000 in seed funding.

With the consents secured, Winters says the priority now is to build on that support and raise the remaining funds as quickly as possible.

“We’ve got to get this done in the next five years but if we haven’t started by 2027 then something has gone wrong.

“With so much transport involved costs can go up with the price of diesel so the sooner we can raise the money and get on with this the better.”

The trust is now seeking donations from the community and philanthropic funders to help bridge the funding gap.

Donations to the registered charitable trust are tax deductible.

Supporters can also contribute through the trust’s Sponsor-a-Pile initiative, with sponsorships of $5000 to $10,000 available, or co-sponsor a pile for donations of $3000 or more.

Donors can have a boat or family name displayed on a plaque, with their consent.

Fence battens can also be sponsored for $100, with sponsors entered into a draw for two nights’ accommodation and dinner for two at Waihau Bay Lodge, subject to availability.

The trust says community backing will be crucial to getting the projects completed and improving boating and fishing safety at Waihau Bay.