Diamond Harbour set for $3m wharf upgrade
Upgrades to the Diamond Harbour wharf to make it more accessible are due to begin on September 1.
The project, which will take about six months to complete, will improve access and safety for wheelchair users, bikes and pushchairs.
The wharf is used for the regular Black Cat ferry service from Lyttelton.
‘‘The steps are often underwater or slippery, which makes getting on and off the ferry tricky, particularly when conditions are a bit rough,’’ Christchurch City Council head of parks Andrew Rutledge said.
There will be a floating pontoon on the south side of the wharf where there is more protection from the wind and waves.
The existing decking, handrails and seating on the main wharf will also be upgraded.
The decommissioned Derrick crane that currently sits on the wharf is going to be retained, but it will be relocated to the other side of the wharf.
Rutledge said the contractor, Hunter Civil, will stage the work so that the wharf can remain open. Access will be limited and there may be temporary changes to the way people get onto the wharf.
The first stage of the work will involve driving piles into the seabed for the new pontoon to connect to. Once the piles are in place and the pontoon connected, Hunter Civil will start the maintenance and repair work on the wharf itself.
‘‘The environmental assessment we commissioned shows the piling work should have little impact on the marine environment, but we are going to have a marine mammal observer present during the piling operation,’’ Rutledge said.
‘‘If they spot a dolphin or other marine mammal within 400 metres of the site, the piling work will stop until they have left the area or there has been 30 minutes without a sighting.’’
Rutledge said that over the summer people will be able to swim at Diamond Harbour and access their moorings, but they will need to be mindful of construction activity on and around the wharf.
‘‘We realise this work will cause some disruption, but the Diamond Harbour wharf is used by many people and it needs upgrading,’’ he said.
‘‘We want the wharf to be safe, accessible and a more pleasant space. We are hoping to have the work completed in about six months.
‘‘But as with all construction projects involving old structures, you never know exactly what you are going to encounter until you start doing the physical work.’’