New ramp to ease boat bottleneck

A second boat ramp and extended pontoon will be installed at Mangawhai Heads after Easter to help relieve congestion over summer.The $30,000 upgrade comes after years of fundraising from the Mangawhai Boating and Fishing Club. The latest fundraiser is the annual Easter fishing competition catch of the day fish auction on April 4.

Club president Buck Buchanan says during busy seasons, holidays and long weekends, there can be up to 350 boats a day.

Currently there is only one way in and out, which causes a bottleneck and safety concerns, with club members actively directing traffic.

“It’s diabolical over summer, especially the two weeks from Christmas,” Buck says.

The new boat ramp will be built on the north side of the pontoon, with 15 cubic metres of concrete. It will only be used to launch boats. Boats coming in will be retrieved from the existing boat ramp on the south side of the pontoon.

The pontoon, originally installed six years ago by the club, will be extended another 6 metres into deeper water, to make it 56 metres in total.

The current L-shape of the pontoon will remain, so boats can still tie-up and unload, and is also used by children for fishing.

The work required two consents, obtained by the Harbour Restoration Society. One for the turnaround area and start of the ramp from Kaipara District Council, and the rest of the ramp below the high water mark from the Northern Regional Council.

Work starts after Easter and should be completed by June, with minimal disruption.

The current ramp will be put to one final test this Easter weekend for the 11th annual Easter fishing competition, an open competition that attracts locals and visitors. It includes prizes for open and ladies heaviest fish species and junior heaviest fish.

A pre-competition rules and briefing night will be held on Friday, April 3 from 6.30pm at the club on Alamar Crescent. Fishing starts on Saturday April 4 at 6am, with weigh-in between 3pm to 4pm. Reserve day is Sunday April 5.