A fresh chapter in Akaroa’s history was celebrated on Monday as the local sea-faring community gathered to mark the reopening of Drummonds Jetty following a major rebuild.
Community members, contractors, council staff, and elected representatives attended the event, which also marked the official opening of a new floating pontoon installed as part of the upgrade.
The completion of marine infrastructure upgrades at both Drummonds Jetty and Daly’s Wharf ensures the community will have functioning facilities during the planned rebuild of the nearby Akaroa Wharf, set to begin in 2026.
Rupert Bool, Head of Parks, said the upgrades were essential for maintaining access to the waterfront while the larger rebuild is underway. “It was great to see the public enjoying the new pontoon today. We know the community will be happy to see the project progress as we get closer to starting work on Akaroa Wharf,” he said.
Photo: Christchurch City Council
The state-of-the-art floating pontoon has been designed to accommodate recreational and commercial boats while minimising disruption to marine life.
Work on the Akaroa Wharf rebuild is expected to begin in early 2026, with completion targeted for mid-2027. In preparation, geotechnical drilling will soon commence and is expected to take between two to six weeks.
A community information session will be held in March to provide updates on the design, timeframes, and potential impacts of the Akaroa Wharf rebuild.
