Pontoon project
The journey to our new pontoon
Every great achievement begins with a simple idea, and for the Bay Coast Rowing Club, the idea of a pontoon has been a long journey filled with determination, community spirit, and a fair share of unexpected twists.
It all started back in 2016, when Tim Jenvey, then serving as our club's safety officer, envisioned a pontoon that would make it easier for our rowers to get on the water. Tim's vision was clear, but the path to making it a reality was anything but straightforward. He first tackled the bureaucratic challenge of securing resource consent, which he achieved in 2020. With his passion and persistence, Tim also managed to secure the initial $70,000 from the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, laying the first financial cornerstone for what would become a monumental project.
As time went on, the project saw many hands and hearts contribute. When Charlie Burns took the reins in 2022, his focus was on navigating the complex web of building consents. It was a challenging phase, but one that laid the groundwork for what was to come.
Meanwhile, our club secretary and chief fundraiser, Wendy Campbell, took on the monumental task of raising the remaining funds. Wendy's efforts brought in substantial support, including a remarkable $250,000 from TECT, $40,000 from NZ Community Trust, $10,000 from Grassroots Trust, $10,000 from the TAB, and $10,000 from Pub Charities. These contributions were a game-changer, but even with these generous donations, we found that our original plan was financially out of reach.
Enter Nathan Scott, a mechanical engineer and club member, who became our technical lead. Nathan's role was crucial – he had to find a way to bring the pontoon to life within our budget. After exploring various options, Nathan sourced a supplier in China, only to be met with an unexpected hurdle: the supplier's busy season left our order unfulfilled. Undeterred, Nathan took it upon himself to design and construct the pontoon, a process that involved countless hours and 20 design iterations. His partner Kylie stood by his side, offering unwavering support.
As the design took shape, our friends at CB Civil, led by Liam and Danny, stepped in to handle the site work. They brought not just expertise but also a willingness to go above and beyond, even absorbing costs when specifications changed. It was a true team effort, with club members like Nick Hanna rolling up their sleeves and getting hands-on during the installation. Nick, always ready with his boot full of tools, also has the honour of being the first to fall off the pontoon.
On July 11th 2024, our journey came full circle. Rowers swapped their oars for shovels, joining forces with CB Civil to plant 372 native plants around the new pontoon. The area was transformed, not just with plants like te kōuka (cabbage trees) and carex grasses, but with a sense of pride and accomplishment.
This pontoon isn't just a structure; it's a testament to our club's spirit and the support of our community. Thanks to the incredible generosity of TECT, NZ Community Trust, Grassroots Trust, the TAB, Pub Charities, and the Western Bay of Plenty District Council, we were able to make this dream a reality. It’s a story of vision, perseverance, and the power of coming together to make something special happen. For everyone who had a hand in this –from the planners and fundraisers to the labourers and supporters – this pontoon is a symbol of what we can achieve when we work as one.
