Plans progress on Napier wave park

Plans to introduce a Wavegarden artificial surf wave attraction by Napier City Council are set to take another step forward with the Council seeking the green light to prepare a business case to develop the wave park.

The artificial surfing lagoon would be a first for New Zealand with the attraction creating the longest surfable man-made waves in the world that can 'peel' for more than 220 metres without losing power or shape.

Napier Mayor Bill Dalton explained "this would be a huge national and international attraction for Napier and Hawke's Bay."

The attraction would feature technology developed by Spanish wave-generation company Wavegarden.

Wavegarden's wave generation technology creates the world's longest and highest quality surf, potentially at any time, and in any location. With a range of companies, including surfing legend Kelly Slater's KS Wave Company and Webber Wave Pools, having been vying to develop the first operating wavepool attractions for surfers, Wavegarden already have a fully functioning demonstration lagoon in operation.

Located outside San Sebastian in the Basque Region of Northern Spain (as pictured), the 200 metre long lagoon creates waves 1.2 metres high, utilising both sides of the lagoon, creating a finite, linear surfing wave with simultaneous right and left hand breaks which flow towards bays at either ends of the lagoon.

The system works by displacing water with a device that travels along the central axis of the lagoon floor. This then creates a high performance, tubing wave that moves down the lagoon breaking along either side until it reaches a bay, where it is transformed into a rolling whitewater wave that is ideal for beginner surfers. The device then reverses and does the same thing in the opposite direction.

Mayor Dalton believes that the wave would attract international surf competitions to Napier while Hawke's Bay Tourism General Manager Annie Dundas states "this type of attraction is exactly what Hawke's Bay needs to expand its overall tourism offering.

"As a region it is essential we invest in tourism infrastructure to create more reasons to visit."

Every minute, two identical waves break simultaneously on both left and right sides allowing surfers to ride for up to 20 seconds. Once the waves reach the bay area at the end of the lagoon, they transform into smooth, rolling waves, perfect for children, long-boarding and surf lessons.

While it was originally proposed the wave garden would go on Napier's Marine Parade, alternative locations are also being considered, including Lagoon Farm.

The technology is designed to generate 120 waves per hour with an average power of 270 kW. Wave frequency and lagoon capacity have allowed Wavegarden to develop an attraction able to provide a commercial return."

Napier City Council Chief Executive Wayne Jack said he hoped the project would go ahead, concluding "we are looking at the business case, but the idea is for us to go into a private partnership with someone keen to make this happen.

"The next step is to develop a detailed business case to see how we can bring this exciting concept to fruition."

The proposal will go before Napier City Council's City Development Committee tomorrow (Wednesday 5th February).

For more information go to www.wavegarden.com

22nd January 2014 - WAVEGARDEN TECHNOLOGY TO REVOLUTIONISE ARTIFICIAL SURFING