The district’s only purpose-built Marine Rescue Centre (MRC) was formally opened yesterday (Sunday, November 27) at Eely Point reserve.

Central Lakes Trust chair Linda Roberston declared the building open before a crowd of coastguard volunteers, supporters, community leaders and wellwishers who also witnessed the commissioning and blessing of Coastguard Wānaka Lakes’ (CWL) new rescue boat, Waiariki.

“With the new building and new boat… a new era starts,” CWL president Jonathan Walmisley said.

Coastguard NZ chief executive Callum Gillespie attended the opening and said the MRC represented a milestone for CWL.

Callum said he was honoured to celebrate “this magnificent achievement which was totally community driven”.

The 220m2 building comprises a drive-through shed for rescue truck, boat and trailer, an incident control/communications hub, complete with ablutions and a kitchenette, and a separate space for the harbourmaster, patrol staff and control centre.

Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board chair Simon Telfer told the Wānaka App the MRC was a true community effort, led by the persistence, patience and tenacity of the CWL.

“We’re just pleased we have people in our community who can make these sorts of things happen. I think we got a great result in the end.”

Also speaking in support of the CWL was Minaret Station owner Jonathan Wallis. The station is located on the north-western side of Lake Wānaka so crossing the lake occurs on a daily basis.

CWL’s former rescue boat outside the new Marine Rescue Centre at Eely Point reserve.

“We do so knowing that on some pretty rough days, we know that if anything does go wrong, we have the coastguard here. Wānaka lake is a cold water environment and it’s important that we have that level of safety…and we shouldn’t take it for granted.” 

He spoke of his brother Matt, who died in a helicopter accident over the lake in 2018, and the role CWL played in the search and his recovery.

“I'm tremendously grateful and thankful for the fact that the reason that we got him back was largely due to the volunteers that are here today, you know, and that's something that I know other families feel the same.”

The MRC’s location at Eely Point attracted a little opposition during the consent process but the overwhelming local support resulted in a renewable 33 year lease with the Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) of the reserve land.

Central Lakes Trust was one of the major sponsors (as well as the Otago Community Trust, Coastguard NZ and Sargood Bequest) to contribute over $300k to the MRC’s building fund and Jonathan also thanked the many in the community who had contributed to the project, including “the young lad who gave us 10 cents”. 

He said the initial budget was more than $900k and the project came in only slightly over budget and time.

The harbourmaster will be based in this dedicated space in the MRC.

The new boat, a nine metre long Protector vessel (one of 21 former 2021 America’s Cup chase craft refitted as rescue boats) replaces the Naiad 6.7m RIB which has been sold. The Naiad’s last operational duty was in support of the police in the search for a missing swimmer on Lake Wānaka last week.

The new boat has already been relocated to the MRC from its long-serving former base in a shed at the Wānaka Showgrounds.

“The crews like the new building and are excited to be operating from it,” Jonathan said.The CWL’s 24 active crew members have spent the last month getting up to speed on the new vessel.

Queenstown Lakes District harbourmaster Phil Wiel will also be based at the MRC this season, together with a team of two staff, three jet skis and summertime staff at boat ramps and launching points.

“Wānaka’s a lot busier than Queenstown, so it makes sense that I’m based here,” Phil said, adding that it was pleasing to see the community support for the Coastguard and the job they do.

This season the CWL will launch from the Wānaka Marina as the construction of a boat ramp at Eely Point (identified in the QLDC reserve management plan more than four years ago) is yet to be funded and designed.