The Pontoon Design and Build

We know our community loves the water and everything to do with it, whether it’s for recreational activities like fishing, gathering kaimoana and boating, or for commercial activities.

We also know how busy the wharf and existing pontoon can become – particularly during peak season, and how there is more demand than ever for space to load and unload boats and jet skis.

That’s why we are looking to construct a new pontoon at the eastern side of the wharf.

A second pontoon will give the wharf more capacity for the community who rely on the water to live, work and travel, while making the harbour more accessible for recreational, rescue and commercial activities.

What's happening now?

The new pontoon was installed in late March. The prefabricated parts of the pontoon were delivered to site by truck and lifted into the water by crane.

Once in the water, crew members attached the pontoon pieces to a barge and floated them out to the piles. The three segments were floated out separately, secured to a pile, and then attached to each other out on the water.

Next to be installed was the gangway. This is the section of walkway that will connect the new pontoon to the eastern walkway.

The prefabricated pieces were delivered to site and the three segments were lifted into place by crane onto two piles.

With the pontoon and gangway installed, one of the finishing touches will be to install solar powered lighting along the gangway and piles of the pontoon.

We expect to have this complete by early June 2023. From there we will be looking to open the pontoon to the community. We’ll let you know more about this closer to the time.

This is what the new wharf will look like

Project milestones

November 2021

Investigations such as underwater mapping and geotechnical and arborist surveys underway
February - July 2022

The construction of the wharf is tendered and pontoon design is finalised.
July 2022

Final design is shared with the community.
March 2023

Construction is underway.

Frequently Asked Questions

Want to know more? We’ve put together some FAQs to help answer some of those burning questions.

Why has it been put in this location?

The eastern side of the wharf has been selected because it is the closest location to the boat ramp which will make it easier to maneuver boats in and out of the water. It is also a deeper location which allows us to build a longer pontoon and is better suited because it won’t affect the beach on the west side of the wharf and avoids the boat haul out facility.

Why not put it west of the wharf?

We considered this location but found the conditions were not as ideal and it is further away from the boat ramp negating some of the benefits of having a second pontoon for getting boats in and out of the water.

Has the community been consulted on this?

Last year, as part of the early stages of this project, we held two workshops with community representatives to discuss the project and possible locations for the wharf. Using feedback gathered at these workshops and through further investigations, the east of the wharf was determined as the most suitable location for the new pontoon.

We also know there is a desire within the community for a second pontoon to help meet growing demand on the wharf and existing pontoon for recreational and commercial uses.

Will the wharf still be open to the public during this time?

Yes, while work is underway, you’ll still be able to access the boat ramp and visit the shops and eateries at the wharf throughout the construction period.

We’ll keep the community updated as we progress, so you know what to expect when you visit the wharf.

How long is construction likely to take?

We expect construction to take around 6 months to complete finishing in April 2023.

What can I expect during construction?

During the construction of the pontoon and walkway, there will be times when there are trucks delivering rocks to the eastern side of the wharf and later in the project, delivering parts of the pontoon. You’ll still be able to access the boat ramp throughout the project but there may be days when it takes a little longer to get your boat into the water. Our contractors on site will work with you to minimise any delays.

We’ll keep the community up-to-date on this project, so you know what to expect when you visit the wharf.

How is this project being funded?

In 2019, Waikato District Council and the Raglan Community Board were granted $2.5 million in funding from the Provincial Growth Fund. This has been allocated to this project and three projects which are focused on the improvement of the wharf and wider harbour now and into the future.