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Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Bay's wharf upgrade to stay in long-term plan
The wharf at Jackson Bay could be upgraded. PHOTO: ODT FILES A $4 million upgrade of the Jackson Bay wharf — the only deep-sea port on the West Coast — may be a contender for co-funding with the government. However, councillors remain split over whether more investment is warranted. The road leading into Jackson Bay is also a headache for the Westland District Council, after slips reactivated in November are expected to take years to settle. The future security of the entire Haast-Jackson Bay Rd has been included in a bid to the government's Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF), at its request. It forms part of package of potential investment supporting the wharf as a critical asset. In a recent update to councillors, Mayor Helen Lash said an upgrade of the aged Jackson Bay wharf was originally going to be part of the RIF application put forward with the Hokitika Airport upgrade. "We took it out to eliminate the risk of having the airport turned down ... but [government funding agency] Kanoa have come back and asked us to re-present that." Almost $10m of RIF co-funding was announced for the airport upgrade this year by way of a suspensory loan. If successful, the Jackson Bay project would be secured in the same way. Mrs Lash said the application was now past the second stage of assessment, and they expected to have a decision at the end of June. Letters of support from the fishing industry and community groups had gone in with the application. The $3.9m sought covered a "grand plan" for the wharf to see it was strengthened according to a report paid for by Fiordland Lobster, she said. A fixed crane, launching ramp for recreational fishers and a tolled carpark around the site that Talley's leased from the council was proposed. Mrs Lash said they had also included the Haast-Jackson Bay special purpose road in the funding bid. NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi funding has been secured for the link, which is now dotted with active slips, until 2027. PHOTO: ODT FILES "We have asked it be considered as staying in the picture in all perpetuity, rather than have that challenged, or ... being removed," the mayor said. "It's a big ask and we've been ballsy with the ask but we've got nothing to lose with it." She said the application — done at the "very sudden" request of the government's regional economic development and investment unit Kanoa — also had the support of the National Emergency Management Agency as the only deep-sea port on the Coast. More than 70% of submitters to the council's draft long-term plan backed external investment in the port, largely for the role it would have in a Civil Defence response. The other options offered in the draft plan were closing it, or selling it to a commercial interest. Crs Jane Neale, Steven Gillett and Patrick Phelps voted against any more money being spent on the wharf. Iwi representative Paul Madgwick said any government funding would come with strings attached. "Newsflash: Kanoa are not Santa Claus. They expect a big contribution before they give out any cash." Major safety upgrades, including structural beam and decking repairs on a large section of the pier, were completed with $1m of government funding in 2020. However, outstanding repairs remain. The majority of councillors eventually agreed to leave the wharf upgrade in the long-term plan — subject to shoring up external funding. They could still decide later to potentially sell the wharf. Cr Madgwick said its fate could be out of the council's hands at any time. "God might make that decision for us ... once that slip goes big time." — Hokitika Guardian By Janna Sherman
NZ Herald
14-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Kaitāia Airport bridge work delayed
The detour in place is along Donald Rd. Motorists travelling to the airport will need to travel through Kaitāia and follow the route. It is about the same distance from Kaitāia to the airport and includes 3km of gravel road on Quarry Rd, but the detour and delays have upset some locals. Camuso said February was the original proposed start date for the bridge project. However, this was delayed for various reasons including upgrading the detour road to better handle more traffic and to carry out dust suppression. ''We also kept one lane of the bridge open for an extra week at the start of the project at the community's request rather than closing the entire thing. 'These factors collectively meant the new start date was effectively March 13,'' he said. ''Since then, we have had rain delays of approximately two weeks with the site very exposed because we are working in a river that is subject to rain and flooding. 'There were an additional two days of high wind delays while working with a crane. 'There was also a geotech delay of another several days because (we) needed to drill deeper than test drilling had originally indicated.' Camuso said the contractor is working long hours and weekends and fabricating some steel work in the shop and transporting to site to save time. There is no additional cost to the council as the project is a fixed price contract, he said. Funding for the upgrade - which is part of the regional council's wider multi-million dollar Awanui Flood Scheme improvements - comes from the Government's Regional Infrastructure Fund for consented priority flood resilience projects that will protect land and assets during severe weather. Altogether $660,000 comes from the fund, and $440,000 from the regional council. The work will fix a 'pinch point' in the flood scheme and will take place in two phases. The first section of the work will allow for earthworks underneath a proposed 15m extension of the bridge - which will open an additional 12m span - and support the wider Awanui scheme. The extra span on the bridge will reduce the risk of flooding to surrounding houses and the Awanui township. A second section of work will involve construction of the bridge extension. Removing the flood 'pinch point' should help prevent the town and nearby area from flooding in extreme weather events.
Scoop
10-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Floodway Infrastructure Investment Protects Edgecumbe
Associate Minister for Regional Development A new floodway infrastructure upgrade that provides flood protection and resilience for Edgecumbe was opened today by Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson. 'The completion of this multi-stage project is an impressive milestone that has been undertaken over 12 years and is one of the largest flood resilience projects completed in New Zealand in recent times. It will bring much needed flood protection for communities and will enable economic development opportunities in the Eastern Bay of Plenty,' Mr Patterson says. 'We only need to think back to the 2017 Edgecumbe floods to realise how critically important this project is to the region. The floods saw water pouring through this area after the Rangitāiki River burst its banks causing millions of dollars in damage, displacing many people, and disrupting the lives of many families for a considerable amount of time.' The Rangitāiki Floodway upgrade was a six-stage project designed to take pressure off the flood prone Rangitāiki River stopbanks by diverting some of its flow during significant weather events. The final stage included increasing the capacity of the floodway and the construction of an additional spillway to manage the water flows entering the floodway from the Rangitāiki River above Edgecumbe. Back in August 2024, this government committed $200m of the Regional Infrastructure Fund to flood resilience across New Zealand. The $50m floodway has been co-funded, with $14m government funding, and the balance of the project funded by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and local community. Upgrading the spillway and installing new floodgates allows the Bay of Plenty Regional Council to safely manage and control the release of flood waters,' says Mr Patterson. 'Projects like the Rangitāiki Floodway upgrade represent core, resilient infrastructure, crucial to the economic, social, cultural, and environmental wellbeing of our country. They help to protect lives and reduce the toll these events can have on communities, businesses, and infrastructure,' says Mr Patterson. 'This project has been a testament to the partnership between central and local government, Rangitāiki River communities, and local Iwi and industry to support community resilience and economic growth in the Eastern Bay. I look forward to seeing this newly protected land being utilised for future growth opportunities that benefit the local economy,' Mr Patterson says.
NZ Herald
05-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Centralines trustee resigns over $100k funding to rescope Central Hawke's Bay dam
Murphy was one of seven trustees. In 2022 Centralines came under fire for putting $200,000 of its funding towards rescoping the Tukituki Water Security Project and has recently decided to put another $100,000 towards it. Various attempts to get a dam in CHB off the ground have been mired in controversy since it was first supported by Hawke's Bay Regional Council (HBRC) almost a decade ago. The Ruataniwha Dam was abandoned by HBRC in 2018 after a Supreme Court finding against it, and the $20 million it had spent on development went down the drain. Consents were sold to Water Holdings Hawke's Bay Ltd, a group of local farmers and rebranded as the Tukituki Water Security Project. In December 2024, Development Minister Shane Jones committed $3m to the project through Regional Infrastructure Fund for the pre-construction development of the project. A flyer distributed at a meeting by local pressure group Water Wise Use HB called for supporters to contact Central Hawke's Bay Consumers Power Trust chairwoman, Karen Middelberg, to request she move a motion at the next trustee meeting, in late May, directing the board to rescind its decision. 'If Middelberg is not prepared to act on the concerns of trust beneficiaries, then she should resign,' it said. WWU spokesman Trevor Le Lievre said ratepayers and taxpayers should prepare themselves for an assault on their wallets, 'as this zombie project has an insatiable appetite for public money'. However, Central Hawke's Bay Mayor Alex Walker said these sorts of comments were designed to 'fearmonger among our community and ratepayers, with no basis of fact to them'. 'The consents for the Tukituki Water Security Project are in private hands, the group is working on the next stages of a business case. 'If there is any requirement for public funding, there would be intense public discussions about this, and what is right for Central Hawke's Bay. 'That time is not now. There is nothing to debate.' In response to the call for her resignation, Middelberg said the trust deed made it clear 'the trust is not to involve itself in the management or operation of the company'. 'This proposal to contribute $100,000 to the water project is a board decision, and it was shared with the trust by the company as a courtesy. 'This decision is well within the board's delegated responsibility and the decision does not meet the threshold that requires approval from the trust. 'The trust informed the board of the opinions from some of the community and expects these were considered in making its decision. We discussed it and although not all members agree, decided not to intervene. 'The trust's duties are to appoint directors to a company with $74m of assets in our community.' Tukituki Water Security Project spokesman Mike Petersen said he welcomed discussions about water security. 'The Tukituki Water Security Project was formed to address the consequences of climate change and increased demand from population growth, and to better understand the impacts these will have in a drying region,' he said. 'Our view has been consistent about water storage being one part of the solution to ensure water security, alongside other measures such as wise water use, greater water efficiencies and recycling. In this respect, we share the same objectives as the Wise Water team. 'These are different projects, using the same Makaroro site for water storage, but with a completely different hierarchy of downstream water use. 'Centralines is a commercial company and has its own strategic and commercial imperatives for investing in projects like the TWSP. 'I cannot speak for Centralines, but they are among several businesses that have committed funding because they see water storage as a key regional priority for Hawke's Bay to help the region thrive and grow.'
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Tauranga Marine Precinct Sale Finalised After Court Dismisses Injunction
The controversial $13.98 million sale of Tauranga's Marine Precinct for a superyacht service development has been settled. The settlement comes two weeks after a High Court judge dismissed the interim injunction that had halted the sale. Tauranga City Council was due to settle its sale of the Sulphur Point property to Christchurch developer Sam Rofe in November, but was halted by the last-minute High Court injunction. It was filed by Sean Kelly, managing director of precinct-based marine service company Pacific 7, on the basis of the displacement of the working boats that use the precinct, and a lack of consultation with precinct users. Justice Peter Andrew's decision, released on April 11, found the arguments for stopping the sale 'generally weak' and that claims of a local fishing boat fleet being harmed were 'overstated'. Council chief executive Marty Grenfell said Justice Andrew's findings were unambiguous. 'Based on further legal advice, council has now met its legal and contractual obligations with regard to the sale of the precinct,' he said in a statement. Councillors discussed the sale behind closed doors for two hours at a meeting on Monday. Grenfell said the sale gave effect to the council's original intent for the precinct when it was established in 2015. This was to help grow the region's commercial marine sector and create significant economic benefits for the local community, he said. 'The reality is that in its current form, the precinct has never achieved its full potential, and ratepayers have been funding ongoing operating losses in the order of $1.5 million a year.' The sale committed the purchaser to design, construct and complete development of the precinct so that it met its strategic objectives and established a purpose-built marine service facility, for the wider benefit of the industry and the community, Grenfell said. He said the council would continue to engage with all marine industry stakeholders and ensure the wider interests of the community were met. Rofe approached the council in late 2023 with a proposal to buy the precinct with a vision of it becoming a 'premier superyacht refit destination'. In a separate statement, Rofe said with the settlement complete his company could begin the transformation works first envisaged by Tauranga in 2014. Rofe said it would deliver a world-class marine precinct that was fit for purpose to provide employment and opportunities in specialist marine services for larger pleasure craft and local commercial vessels. 'The Tauranga Marine Precinct will offer all users the same care and respect that is given so generously by the people of Tauranga Moana to all who visit our beautiful city.' The first stage of the $11.4 million precinct project opened in 2018. Its development was funded by the council through land sales, and Bay of Plenty Regional Council through the Regional Infrastructure Fund. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
