By Kira Carrington, Local Democracy Reporting
The popular Ferry Bridge swimming spot is to be closed until June 2027. Photo: Marlborough Express
A second popular swimming spot in Marlborough will close this summer, due to flood repair works.
Marlborough District Council announced that Ferry Bridge would be closed until June 2027, as long-awaited stopbank repairs get underway.
Council's infrastructure and services manager Richard Coningham said that, with large machinery operating on both sides of the Wairau River disturbing the river's silt, it had been judged too hazardous for swimming.
"This is not a decision taken lightly," he said. "It is for the safety of the public and to allow us to progress this important flood control work for the protection of the Spring Creek community."
Coningham said that, if the opportunity to temporarily open Ferry Bridge for swimmers presented itself, they would take it, but he couldn't make any promises.
"Council apologises for any inconvenience, as we know how popular this area is," he said.
"However, we are lucky in Marlborough that we do have plenty of rivers and seaside destinations, and we encourage regular users of the river and the wider public to take this opportunity to explore some new places."
Those new places would not include the popular Whites Bay beach. The Department of Conservation (DOC) closed its Whites Bay campsite in July, due to "significant flood damage", asking visitors to "stay clear".
There is no access to the Whites Bay beach as DOC repairs significant flood damage. Photo: Marlborough Express
DOC operations manager Stacey Wrenn said that, with the campsite closed, there was no beach access.
"The remediation work is complex and will take time to ensure the site is safe for visitors, but we're working hard to get this restored and reopened as soon as we safely can," he said. "We expect to have more information on a timeframe later this year."
The DOC website said the campsite would be closed over the Christmas and New Year period.
The council currently monitored water quality at nine beaches and 10 rivers, as recreational swimming spots, although not all of them had suitable water quality for swimming.
Check the latest water quality test results at www.lawa.org.nz.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
