Concept approved for Raglan Wharf building

Concept design for a new purpose-built Raglan Wharf building got the green light at the Raglan Community Board meeting this week.

The design concepts for the proposed new wharf building were presented by General Manager Water & Facilities, Richard Bax at a meeting of the Raglan Community Board on Tuesday 11 May. The design is of a similar size and character to the original wharf complex destroyed by fire on 13 April last year.

“This is a milestone we’re very pleased to have reached. Our aim was always to develop a design to cater for the present and future needs of a working wharf, which is also an historic asset to Raglan, and we will achieve that” he said.

The new building design is sympathetic to the character of the wharf site and will include some recycled material saved from the original 1920s wharf complex.

The former wharf buildings razed by fire housed Raglan Seafoods, Tony Sly Pottery, Raglan Kayak and the Raglan Coastguard office. The new design has been developed to accommodate those tenants who have indicated they intend to return with consideration to potential use in the future.

The concept drawings were prepared by Beca Infrastructure. Now that the external concept is approved, Beca Infrastructure will complete final drawings of the wharf building to include the internal floor plan.

“Once the final design is approved, the construction contract will be put out for tender; we’ll confirm a contractor and announce a timeframe for the completion of the replacement wharf building. We are working towards opening the new wharf building early next year,” Mr Bax said.

Work on repairing the wharf structure is on schedule. Contractors are carrying out the work with all consideration to the harbour environment. A floating boom is available to ensure any floating construction debris is captured. This is additional to the catch net system in place under the wharf. The wharf reconstruction is due for completion by June 30.