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After a long day or night rescuing people in their boats at sea, a proper base where Hibiscus Coastguard volunteers can get out of the weather for a hot snack and de-brief before heading home does not seem much to ask for.
Mark Manhire says when he came on board as the organisation’s president last year, his goal was to establish a base in Gulf Harbour for the crew. Ideally it needed to be near the marina, where Hibiscus Coastguard’s primary rescue boat, Hibiscus Rescue One, is berthed.
The unit also has a shed at Stanmore Bay Boating Club housing its second vessel, a Sealegs, which Mark says will remain.
“A proper base at Gulf Harbour will allow our unit to split training into groups so that some can train at Stanmore Bay and the rest at Gulf Harbour Marina,” Mark says. “It will also provide us with a much-needed facility to undertake boating education courses and information sessions for local boaties, as well as improving our visibility in the community.”
Several options were considered before Gulf Harbour Marina said it would donate a second berth nearby where a cabin could be located on a floating pontoon.
“That was by far the best option, and we straight away began looking at how to make that happen,” Mark says.
Hibiscus Coastguard’s immediate past president, Raymond Greenfield, spotted a disused floating cabin at Hobbs Bay and when Gulf Harbour Marina took over the marina at Fairway Bay, they sold that floating cabin to the local Coastguard.
“The key was the pontoon – it’s in good condition, and a new one would have cost around $40,000,” Mark says. “The cabin itself was only fit for demolition.”
Designs recently produced by local construction company Ze Build for Coastguard include a basic kitchen, chart and briefing table and storage – somewhere to eat, grab a coffee, plan and debrief.
In the coming weeks the pontoon and cabin, which Mark says weighs around 30 tonnes, will be lifted out of the water, the cabin demolished and the new one built. When that work is finished, Gulf Harbour Marina will drag it around to the berth.
Mark says in total, the project will cost around $85,000 with construction costs, in particular, soaring recently. Coastguard NZ has put in $25,000 and the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board granted $30,000 from ratepayers. The unit has begun fundraising for the balance of around $30,000.
“This is a significant undertaking for our unit and one which has had the financial support of Coastguard NZ and our wider community,” Mark says. “We are now seeking some additional sponsorship so that we can complete this vital project.”
To find out more, or donate, email Mark, president@coastguardhibiscus.org.nz
