Environmental hazard unchecked as boat leaks into Weiti

Stillwater Boating Club has been left to deal with a boat that is now an environmental hazard, according to club commodore Steve Sharp.

The boat, originally called Tuatahi, is an historic kauri launch, possibly an old whaler, which is now sunk on a mud bank near the clubhouse, filling up with water whenever the tide comes in.

Sharp says that the boat was damaged when its owner, Arden Brown, tried to put it on one of the club’s grids to work on it, several months ago. In doing so he put a hole in its bow.

Last month, the boat fell off the grid into the water where it now lies, with multiple holes in its hull.

Of most concern to the club is that it is leaking oil into the Weiti River. Sharp says the club, as well as numerous members of the public, have contacted both the Harbourmaster and

Auckland Council’s environmental team, yet no action has been taken.

They have also tried, unsuccessfully, to contact the boat’s owner.

Auckland Harbourmaster, Andrew Hayton, lays the issue firmly at the club’s door, as the vessel was tied to one of its grids before it fell in the water.

“The Harbourmaster’s office will assist them with removal where we can,” he says. “We are not aware of any significant pollution associated with the vessel. There is always a small amount of fuel leakage when a power driven vessel sinks. It is generally too light to be able to effectively clean up when this occurs.”

Sharp says the club is in the process of coming up with a plan.

“It’s an environmental hazard because it’s leaking diesel and oil and making a mess of our river,” he says.

“We hope with help from the Harbourmaster, and maybe Coastguard, we can refloat it, put it on a cradle, bring it out of the water into the boatyard and dispose of it at some stage.”

Comment was sought from Council’s environmental team, and the boat’s owner but neither responded by the paper’s deadline.