Waikato District Council recently announced that the Raglan Wharf would be repaired with a $2.5 million Government Grant.
As it is only nine years since WDC contractors carried out a complete repair and refurbishment of the wharf, Raglan 23 asked them on 25th May why further repairs were necessary now:
After the 2011 repair work on Raglan Wharf costing $635,096 , WDC said, “The Raglan Wharf is now as strong as it was when it was built in 1916. Repairs to the underlying wharf structure were completed last week on time and below the original budget. The contractor, HEB Structures have completed the work to a very high standard and performed well given the change in scope and some very challenging tidal conditions.”
2011 Media release by Waikato District Council
Why is it necessary to repair the wharf structure again, just 9 years after the previous repair?
While the Council has acknowledged receiving the query they have not yet answered it.
We also asked them: “Does this (doing the work with the Government grant) mean that income from the Raglan Harbour reserve estate will be able to used on another harbour project?” Each year the Council receives a substantial income from property leases of its Harbour Reserve Estate (the area bounded by Bow Street, Wainui Road and the Opotoru Estuary). This income can only be spent on expenses and projects related to the Whaingaroa Harbour. In the past the money has funded new bar crossing beacons, the 2011 wharf repairs and the footbridge replacement.
The Council said:
The report to the Raglan Community Board in February says “Council resolved to bring forward $630,000 from the Raglan Harbour Reserve and Raglan Harbour fund for replacement of existing assets, the total available for the remainder of the current LTP period, as a contribution towards the suite of works.”
This money from the Raglan Harbour Reserve and Raglan Harbour fund will be added to the $2.5m from the Provincial Growth Fund for the project.
WDC spokesperson