8 BREAKWATERS AND PONTOONS


NZ community celebrates long-awaited marina renovation


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ituated on the caldera of a supervolcano is the largest freshwater lake in New Zealand. A trout fishing


mecca, Lake Taupo quickly became a popular holiday spot. Tourists come from near and far to enjoy the warm, clear waters and natural volcanic hot springs. Motuoapa Marina was


constructed over 50 years ago on the South shore of Lake Taupo when the village of Motuoapa was just a small settlement. Catering to small fishing boats, engineers designed the marina with a circular basin that featured a large island in the middle, with short finger piers edging its rim. When the marina was given the go- ahead for redevelopment in 2016, designers knew the island had to go. The marina at Motuoapa


has now undergone a complete renovation, featuring the latest Fibreglass Reinforced Polymer (FRP) technology by international marina construction company Bellingham Marine and the opening of its new facilities marks a significant milestone for the region, which moved mountains (or in this case an island) to make it happen! How exactly does one remove


an entire island? The first step was to bring in one tonne bags of gravel to build a dam at the marina’s


The new configuration of Motuoapa Marina provides 158 berths.


entrance. Once the access was blocked, contractors began pumping water out of the basin. The water level was taken down


to a depth of 18 inches. At that time, crews brought in dredging equipment and began to dismantle the island. The soil taken from the centre of the marina was then used to reclaim land at the Northern end of the site. This created several acres


to be used as picnic, recreation and parking areas for guests. “It’s an exciting time for our


community,” remarked Deputy Harbourmaster Toni Maulder. “The project was complex, but the new marina was well worth the wait. It allows boats to be berthed safely in deeper, cleaner water with modern, compliant facilities for berth-holders and the general


public to enjoy.” The new configuration includes


over 1,600 sq km of new concrete floating pontoons, providing 158 berths ranging in size from eight to 14 metres. The pontoons feature Bellingham’s FRP thru-rods and aluminium pile guides. Bellingham Marine bmi@bellingham-marine.com www.bellingham-marine.com


Left: Motuoapa Marina before renovation by Bellingham Marine. Right: The facility after the island had been removed. MAY 2018 • MARINA INDUSTRY SOUTH-EAST ASIA & PACIFIC


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