Long-time scaffolders James Coates and Juan O’Sullivan thought of their Bombwell concept one day on the way home from work. 

The pair, both of whom have lived in Cromwell for a year, saw what had been done in the North Island and Immediately started along the path toward making it a reality on the shore of Lake Dunstan.

Their proposed multi-layered scaffold structure would have platforms offering drops in two-metre stages - all the way up to 10 metres for those truly committed to testing their limits at an Olympic platform dive height.  

The pair have been conducting market research through an online survey. 

So far, Bombwell has the support of 95 per cent of the 230 people who have completed the series of questions. 

The concept has the support of the Lake Dunstan Charitable Trust and has been described as “doable” by those the pair initially spoke to at Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) and the Central Otago District Council (CODC).

While both men are optimistic Bombwell will become a feature on the shores of Lake Dunstan, they know there is much to be done before securing resource consent and the permit required to set up on the lake. 

The site of choice for Bombwell is alongside the north end of Alpha Street Reserve, adjacent to the existing floating swimming platform where the lake drops away steeply.

The duo thinks that If the planning and paperwork go well, the scaffolding could be going up in November and ready for a bombing-deprived public in December for the busy summer season.

You can complete the online Bombwell survey here.