Coastguard Wānaka Lakes (CWL) hopes to break ground on the district’s first dedicated Marine Rescue Centre (MRC) early next year. 

Located above the Scout Den on Eely Point Reserve, the MRC will give the local Coastguard a purpose-built facility near the lake, allowing it to react to call-outs quickly.

There have been many hoops to jump through in the four-or-so years since the CWL first approached the Wānaka Community Board (WCB) and Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) about the proposal to build the MRC on Lake Wānaka’s foreshore, but full funding has now been secured, resource consent granted, and a building consent lodged.

“We are finalising the contracts with builders and will be hoping to have all the ducks in order for a start early 2022,” CWL president Jonathan Walmisley told the Wānaka App.

As long as there aren’t any “huge” supply chain issues for materials, “we should be okay,” Jonathan said.

“It has been a long four years to get to this point, but we are now making real progress in ensuring we have a permanent coordination centre with effective communications which will enhance the safety of all lake users and our Coastguard volunteers.”

The MRC will comprise a single storey 220m2 building housing the rescue boat, a members’ training room and kitchenette, and a small storage area for the harbourmaster’s office to house equipment. 

Related: Marine rescue centre progresses

It will be landscaped with trees and shrubs to conceal the building as much as possible from the adjacent Lakeside Drive and nearby homes.

In 2019 Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) issued the CWL with a 33-year lease for the centre at the Eely Point site.

A resource consent hearing took place in late 2020 before independent commissioner Bob Nixon granted resource consent approval subject to a number of conditions.

The CWL has recently completed fundraising for the building, with the most recent grant, worth $200,000 coming from the Otago Community Trust (OCT) in October this year.

As well as the OCT, CWL has also received support from the Central Lakes Trust, Coastguard New Zealand, and local fundraising efforts.

According to the QLDC harbourmaster, Lake Wānaka is by far the busiest lake under QLDC control with as many as 3,000 boaties on the lake during a normal summer season.

PHOTO: Supplied