Beached yacht dismantled
A yacht stranded on New Brighton Beach for three weeks has been removed at the expense of Canterbury ratepayers.
An Environment Canterbury (ECan) contractor was on the beach at 3am yesterday to carry out the five-hour dismantling process while tide conditions allowed it.
The removal is expected to cost about $5000, which has been footed by ECan until the legal owner can be identified.
Christchurch West Melton Banks Peninsula zone manager Steve Firth said ECan made several attempts to have the owner remove the boat as it was ‘‘their responsibility’’.
He said ECan ran into some confusion about who legally owned the boat as several people claimed they did after original owner Sean Grant tried to sell it on Facebook.
‘‘We could not delay the removal of the vessel any longer as it was both a health and safety risk to the public, and had the potential to result in adverse environmental effects on the foreshore.
‘‘We were conscious that if it stayed there any longer it might break up, which is potentially hazardous for anyone on the beach.’’
Firth said ECan were talking to the owner about paying the removal costs. The dismantled yacht would be disposed at the Kate Valley Landfill in North Canterbury.
Grant had to swim to shore after his yacht ran aground on New Brighton Beach about 6.30pm on September 12.
He was given a deadline of September 27 to have the boat removed from the beach. It ended up staying there for three weeks.
Grant listed the yacht for sale on Facebook on the proviso the new owner would remove it from the beach. He said it was worth up to $3000.
A friend of Grant’s created a Givealittle page on September 24 to help raise funds so the yacht could be removed. It was closed shortly after because a Givealittle team member saw the yacht for sale online.
Grant has not responded requests for comment. to