Contact Energy’s 18-tonne barge is being loaned to M3 Contracting, the company building the Lake Dunstan Cycle and Walking Trail. 

On Tuesday morning, two M3 Contracting staff, including general manager Andrew Bailey, maneuvered a truck under the barge and prepared it for transit.

The barge, which has seen quite a lot of action in the Clutha River and Lake Dunstan over the years, will be floated over the coming days to ensure it is ship-shape before being loaded. 

It will eventually be put to work below the Cairnmuir Slip, between Pickaxe Bluff and Hartleys Bluff.

The M3 Contracting team had just millimetres when it came to loading the barge for transit. 

M3’s Andrew and crew-member Hayden Cruzier played with millimetres when it came to reversing the truck under the barge. 

At one point, Hayden had to shovel dirt to gain just enough height to avoid catching the edge of trailer on the barge. 

Air was also let out of the trailer to get just that little bit more room and the M3 was able to secure the steel monster for transit. 

Andrew said the barge will be used in a remote part of the lake where the trail is being developed and machinery is unable to make its way there over land. 

“This (the barge) is to move the digger into the last piece of the puzzle for the trail,” he said. “It’ll be able to take about 16-tonne worth of weight.” 

“It’ll be used to ferry and carry the digger, as well as tractor, roller and graveler. 

“We’ve currently got one barge in the lake for gravel, but this one will be solely used for the machinery.” 

The 18-tonne barge will be floated over the next few days before being loaded and moved into position on the shores of Lake Dunstan.

Andrew’s crew has been working on the trail since June 2019 and the 18 month-long project is slated for opening early-2021, after being delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

He and his team have endured all kinds of weather conditions while working on the steep banks of Lake Dunstan and he himself is eager to ride the trail once it is finished. 

“It is looking great and it’s been a lot of fun to work on,” Andrew said.

“I don’t get to mountain bike as much as I’d like, but I’ll definitely be riding this ( Lake Dunstan Cycle and Walking Trail) once it’s done.” 

Contact Energy Head of Hydro Generation Boyd Brinsdon said his organisation is more than happy to help out. 

“Contact is involved because we were happy to make our barge available for the cycleway construction, as it will be both great for the community and for sustainable tourism.”

The Lake Dunstan Trail is currently under-development and will link the townships of Clyde and Cromwell. 

Once completed, the trail will form part of a network of 536km of new trails connecting Cromwell to other Central Otago, Queenstown and Wanaka trails.

The 52km section is part of the $26million New Zealand Cycle Trail Project, funded by the Government, the Central Lakes Trust and the Otago Community Trust.

Photos Rowan Schindler.

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