Yacht club demolished after irreparable Christchurch earthquake damage

by Richard Gladwell on 3 Jul 2011 Earthquake damaged Pleasant Point Yacht Club was demolished last week.

[Sorry, this content could not be displayed]It is the second yacht club building to be demolished February 2011 earthquake. Earlier a boatshed belonging to the Christchurch Yacht Club was demolished.

Both clubs are located in the Christchurch Estuary which borders some of the worst damage and liquefaction from the earthquakes that have struck the region.

There has been a club on the Pleasant Point site for 90 years. The club sustained some damage after the September 2010 earthquake and after that may have been possible to rebuild. However after the second major earthquake in February 2011 in which 300 people lost their lives, the Club and surrounding land suffered major damage and was irreparable.

At high tide the club was now flooded, and impossible to be restored.

An insurance settlement is believed to have been made, however there is no plan in place for new premises, and it may well be that there may be some rationalisation of facilities on the Estuary between the three clubs that currently sail on the body of water, along with other marine sports groups.

The Christchurch Press reports:

Club treasurer Jocelyn Humphreys said although the club wanted the building pulled down, the loss was 'very sad'.

'We've been there since 1921, and continuously sailing since then,' she said.

The club was to begin anniversary celebrations the day after the September quake, but instead spent the time salvaging equipment and memorabilia.

Christchurch yacht clubs had come to its aid by sharing facilities, until the February quake stopped all sailing on the Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Humphreys said.

'We're waiting now to know what's going to happen with the Estuary. A lot of investigation needs to go on as to what changes have been made to the bed of the Estuary, where the channels are now and where the deep water is.'

The 140-year-old Woolston Community Library was also pulled down today, after volunteers removed hundreds of books before demolition crews moved in.
Club treasurer Jocelyn Humphreys said although the club wanted the building pulled down, the loss was 'very sad'.

'We've been there since 1921, and continuously sailing since then,' she said.

The club was to begin anniversary celebrations the day after the September quake, but instead spent the time salvaging equipment and memorabilia.

Christchurch yacht clubs had come to its aid by sharing facilities, until the February quake stopped all sailing on the Avon-Heathcote Estuary, Humphreys said.

'We're waiting now to know what's going to happen with the Estuary. A lot of investigation needs to go on as to what changes have been made to the bed of the Estuary, where the channels are now and where the deep water is.'