A decision is to be made on the future of the wharf at the council's community development committee meeting next week, after council parks manager Lisa Wheeler recommended the wharf be "removed as soon as practicable" after an engineer's assessment found it was rotting and at risk of collapsing.
The wharf, which was built around the turn of the 20th century by the Otago Harbour Board, has fallen into disrepair since ownership was transferred to the council in 1989. The council had not carried out maintenance work since then because it was unaware it owned the wharf until 2010.
Chalmers Community Board chairwoman Jan Tucker said the issue was discussed at a board meeting this week and the consensus was that it would be difficult get the council to fund a new wharf once the old one had been demolished.
"We do understand that it's dangerous and if something happens the council could be liable, but we are also very aware that once a facility goes ... trying to replace it will be very difficult," she said.
The board was "loathe" to see the wharf go without a commitment to help fund a new one.
The Aramoana community would be willing to fundraise to help pay for a replacement.
Cr Andrew Noone, who also sits on the community board, said the council could alleviate some of the concerns by committing to getting a proposed harbour access and facilities study under way soon. As part of the study, the feasibility of putting in a new wharf at Aramoana could be considered, he said.
