Lyttelton marina’s remnant piles to disappear

Lyttelton’s popular Naval Point will become safer for water sports enthusiasts following the removal of redundant piles in Magazine Bay.

Fifty-two remnant concrete piles from the planned Magazine Bay Marina that was devastated by a storm in 2000 are being removed to improve navigation and public safety at the well-used recreational spot.

Work is set to start at the beginning of this month and is being carried out with assistance from Lyttelton Port Company to keep costs down. The port company has a barge owned by Smiths Crane and Construction in Lyttelton Harbour currently completing navigational signals work, which will be used for the pile removal.

Concrete piles will be removed from Naval Point.

The removed piles will become part of the port company’s reclamation work, saving on disposal costs.

The removal is exciting news for the many groups that use the area, as well as the wider community, with them all identifying the piles as a significant navigation and public safety hazard.

Harbourmaster Ian Fox says it is great to see development work starting at Naval Point.

“This will create a safer, more open space leading to the boat ramps that will significantly improve access for boaties,” he says.

The change is also being welcomed by Naval Point Club Lyttelton members.

“This work, along with the recent improvements to the parking area adjacent to the public slipway, are tangible evidence of the Christchurch City Council’s commitment to improving the only access to open water boating in the Christchurch area. It’s great for our members and for the wider boating community of the greater Christchurch region,” Club Commodore Colin Lock says.

The pile removal should take around a month to complete and precedes a wider piece of work being carried out by the Council to develop Naval Point, which will involve public consultation.