A $10,000 grant will aid Rotorua’s Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Squadron (BOPTYS) to build a new ramp retaining wall at Okawa Bay on Lake Rotoiti.

The New Zealand Community Trust grant enables the club to have its jetties, parking area and ramp retaining wall repaired and replaced.

“The ramp retaining wall has deteriorated over the past 50 years and was no longer safe,” past commodore and club secretary Leonie Kibblewhite said.

“Thanks to NZCT’s generous support, we can now rebuild the wall and improve access for everyone who uses the facility.”

BOPTYS, formed in 1974, quickly established key infrastructure including a ramp, three jetties, a retaining wall and a public toilet block to support trailer yacht sailing on Lake Rotoiti.

The marina facilities are open to the public and provide one of the most popular access points to the lake, used daily by club members, commercial operators, and community groups such as Sailability Rotorua and The Disabled Sailing Trust.

Rotorua’s Bay of Plenty Trailer Yacht Squadron will be able to replace its aged ramp retaining wall. Photo / Supplied

In 2024, Rotorua District Council granted BOPTYS a 30-year resource consent to assume responsibility for the two main jetties and the retaining wall.

With around 10 boats using the ramp each day and frequent use of the jetties, a sound retaining wall is essential to protect the foreshore and support ongoing recreational access.

"We want to foster the facility at Okawa Bay so that the whole community can easily access the lake,“ commodore Adrian McHardy said.

“Not only will this new and improved facility enhance our members’ enjoyment of sailing, but it will also be widely utilised by the local community, iwi, and visitors alike. The camaraderie we all share is really inspiring!”

NZCT’s grants, marketing and communications general manager Ben Hodges said they’re delighted to help ensure people can continue to simply and safely access recreational activity on this beautiful roto/lake.