You might have seen the email I just sent to all objectors, and I just wanted to comment on this publicly-funded response from the MBCRT Marketing Department.
These guys argue that all the risks raised by people are the same for any ramp or wharf. They try to compare tidal flow and closeness to structures here with Half Moon Bay, Whakatane and Whitianga. I've launched at Half Moon Bay and we lived on the Tamaki Estuary. We had a beach house in Ohope, and I've launched at Whakatane. A few key points:
the tide here is insanely faster than at Half Moon Bay. It's faster than the river at Whakatane. It's faster than anything anywhere!
nobody swims at Half Moon Bay, let alone jumps from the wharf. There are too many boats. Kids jump from the wharf at Whakatane, but not where the boats launch
Half Moon Bay has a large marina complex, at least as large as Mapua Wharf, but it's at least 500m from the ramps. You're not even aware of the boats launching and coming in when you're at the marina complex. The ramp at Whakatane is in the middle of the fishing wharf, and other than the fisherman's club, there is no retail or hospitality within 1km
Half Moon Bay has 2-300 boats launch a day at peak summer - it's the biggest ramp in the area so it atttracts the most boats. Trailers are parked up to 1k away. And it's absolute bedlam. I only did it twice, the first time was okay but the second time was mayhem. Completely freaked me out!
Whakatane is a useful example in another way . Ohope has 2,500 people (10,000 in summer). It has a beautiful harbour, and there is a boat ramp about 10 minutes from town towards the bar. The setup there is very similar to Grossi Pt. There were always a few bigger boats, but most of the bigger ones drove 20 minutes to Whakatane to launch on a dedicated ramp into the river and through a much easier and safer bar.
What a shame the so-called experts didn't take a closer look at the models they used - neither Half Moon Bay nor Whitianga are relevant, and Whakatane is more relevant than they acknowledge.
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