Call for harbour signs warning of ‘dangers’
THE state of Oamaru Harbour has come in for official criticism.
After an investigation into the foundering of a fishing vessel, the Otago Regional Council’s harbourmaster has called for signs at Oamaru Harbour to warn of the ‘‘inherent dangers’’ of entering the harbour.
He also called for formal consideration of the ‘‘restoration of the channel shape, alignment and depth’’ at the harbour entrance.
In his report, released under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act, Geraint Bermingham detailed eight recommendations for changes at the harbour, and suggested most of them be Waitaki District Council responsibilities.
On February 9, under the control of skipper Jeremy Hartley, of Dunedin, Jane Marie left Timaru and arrived at Oamaru’s harbour entrance about 8.45pm at low tide while ‘‘reasonably heavy with a load of recently caught fish’’.
As the vessel passed the end of Holmes Wharf it struck the bottom, which is not uncommon, and came to a stop.
‘‘The sea and wind soon took charge,’’ the report said. The boat struck rocks surrounding the wharf, ‘‘listed heavily to port, rapidly took on water and lost buoyancy’’.
A Maritime New Zealand investigation, released under the Official Information Act, found no fault with the skipper’s actions. Fatigue was not a factor and there were no indications that drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident.
Shortly after Mr Bermingham’s report was issued, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher said dredging the harbour needed to be considered.
This week, Mr Kircher said the council was working with the regional council ‘‘around what needs to go up around signs — signage — and we will do that’’.
‘‘We are considering funding dredging again. We were still funding it when I finished as a councillor in 2010, but then sometime in the next three years [while Mr Kircher was not involved in local government] they stopped funding it.
‘‘During my term and a bit as mayor we haven’t reinstated that.’’
Council assets group manager Neil Jorgensen said the council had started discussions with the regional council ‘‘on the best way to manage the harbour, including the recommendations from the harbourmaster’s report’’.
The council did not have plans to dredge the harbour this year, but it would be included as a proposal for the 201828 longterm plan.
In February 2012, the Otago Daily Times reported the council used to put aside $100,000 a year for dredging work, but stopped the practice during the 201213 financial year.
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