As the $20 million Queenstown Marina officially opened, plans were immediately announced for Stage Two.
Work on the 85-berth Stage One started when Lakes Marina Projects Limited first applied for resource consent back in December 2013. Construction started in November 2017 and the floating part of the marina was handed over in September 2019.
Construction of Stage One was completed just as Covid hit, and despite the timing, the interest for berths has been unprecedented over the last two years. With just 15 private and commercial berths currently available to lease, the time is right to start construction of Stage Two mid next year. It will add approximately 100 additional berths to the marina and will also provide electric charging for boats and vehicles.
Before the marina was built there were no facilities on Lake Wakatipu for larger vessels. over 14m.
Seventeen floating buildings were also part of Stage One. Each is an individual module with its own power, water, internet and gas.
Coffee Afloat, Lake Dunstan’s award-winning coffee and floating burger bar is one of the tenants.
The marina company will make additional investment in a hydraulic boat trailer suitable for larger vessels. Lakes Marina Projects is also working with the Queenstown Lakes District Council on provision of a large shed to safely house boats while they’re being worked on.
An efficient floating wave attenuator made of curved concrete pontoons protects the marina structure and vessels from wave action.
A state-of-the-art telescopic piling system by Bellingham Marine was incorporated to allow vertical movement of the Unifloat concrete pontoons without the need for unsightly piles extending above waterline.
