Waka ama continues at Pilot Bay

Tauranga's waka ama canoe club has been given an assurance it can continue to be based at Pilot Bay, despite fears that its gear shed stood in the way of the planned boardwalk along the foreshore.

Club official Paul Woods was alarmed at plans that showed the route of the boardwalk went through the shed.

He said they may be able to compromise on the size of the shed because they did not need something that big.

He said the gear shed, gifted by the Mount Maunganui Yacht Club, had an aesthetic function and was an icon of 1960s-70s design.

His plea to yesterday's council meeting was answered by Mayor Stuart Crosby saying that it was a matter of accommodating the storage.

The council will look at whether the gear could be stored in an annexe of the toilet block.

Councillor Larry Baldock said there was over 4m of space on the foreshore for the waka.