New Zealand: Sandspit Marina Dredging Underway

The Sandspit Marina dredging program has begun and the first of five pontoon arms will be installed in August.

Marina spokesperson Graeme Maker says construction of the pontoons for the 131-berth marina began in April, but dredging did not start until the end of last month following delays in getting the Construction Management Plan approved.

“But everything is within the timeframe and we don’t expect this to affect the completion date,” Graeme says.

The $18 million project is due to be completed by the end of next year.

Australian company Pacific Pontoons and Silverdale-based company Hoppers Construction are contracted to deliver the project with about 10 to 12 staff on site.

There are still 31 berths to be sold, but Graeme says that won’t affect the delivery of the project.

“We are delighted with that result, but we hope to have them all sold before the marina is completed.”

The first area being dredged is directly in front of the Sandspit Yacht Club, where the first and smallest arm of the marina will be located.

The sandstone dredged from the area is being used to construct a bund that will serve as a temporary storage area to drain dredgings.

Two barges are expected to arrive on site in August when they will begin shipping the spoil to a dump-site off Great Barrier Island.