The providers of free, wide-ranging, emergency radio services for Lake Wānaka and parts of Lake Hāwea are seeking funding to expand very high frequency (VHF) communication services on Lake Hāwea and the Hunter Valley.

The Upper Clutha Radio Telephone Users Association (UCRTUA), a registered charity, is planning to establish a repeater station linked to its Mt Roy site, which will provide the necessary coverage on Lake Hāwea.

“If you stood on top of Mt Roy and you look towards Hāwea, what the eye can see is what the radio will receive,” UCRTUA chair Ian Brown said.

“So the [Lake Hāwea] township is fine, it gets coverage, but down at the [Lake Hāwea] boat ramp, at the [Lake Hāwea] motor camp, and north of Timaru Creek there is nothing.”

The ‘line of sight’ signal means parts of Lake Hāwea do not have VHF coverage.

Ian said the initiative is a community service project driven by growth in users of Lake Hāwea.

“A lot of guys jet boat up the Hunter River, so we're looking at getting a bit of coverage in that area too,” he said.

Ian said the expanded coverage requires a repeater station to be established on an appropriate site at a cost of $75,000.

“A couple of local [Hāwea] landowners have given permission for the repeater to be located on their land and so we will undertake testing to establish best placement,” Ian said. 

“We as a committee can contribute approximately $10,000 from reserves so still need to somehow access another $65,000.”

Ian said the UCRTUA is approaching local funders but the group is likely to have a shortfall which may interrupt plans to have the repeater operational this coming summer.

“The intent is to have the project complete by this summer but that goal may be unachievable without secured funding,” he said.

The emergency channel UCRTUA provides to ensure the safety of boaties on Lakes Wānaka and Hāwea is VHF Channel 66. The group says the unique nature of VHF, being a one-to-many channel, makes it a better option for the safety of boaties in the region.

UCRTUA volunteers operate and maintain the communications facility on Mt Roy which houses radio repeater units used by a range of locals including the Department of Conservation, Land Search and Rescue, local recreational and commercial boating operators, Coast Guard Wānaka Lakes, helicopter companies, local farms and taxi services.

Together with these services, the UCRTUA also provides a vital radio service to the Queenstown Lakes District Council and Otago Regional Council for regional Civil Defence emergency management. 

Find out more about the UCRTUA group here.

PHOTOS: Ian Brown