The Opotiki Harbour Development

The development of the Opotiki Harbour has been proposed for some time and an Eastern Seafarms proposal for the development of a mussel and / or marine farm off shore of Opotiki has highlighted the economic potential this resource has for the Easteran Bay of Plenty.

Opotiki District’s vision of becoming the base for a world class aquaculture industry took an important step forward at the end of July 2009.

Independent Hearing Commissioners appointed by the Minister of Conservation, Environment Bay of Plenty and Opotiki District Council have granted a series of Coastal Permits and Land Use Consents to allow the development of the Opotiki Harbour entrance to provide safe access for vessels under most tide and weather conditions.  The Commission also recommended that the Minister of Conservation grants Coastal Permits covering the construction and use of river training walls and reclamation of 1.9 hectares of foreshore and seabed.

The marine farm is now fully consented and steps to commercialise the space are currently underway.  It is assumed that both projects will be implemented and the local impacts have been factored into the ten year plan.  

The importance to the community of improving the access between the ocean and Pakihikura (the Waioeka/Otara River entrance) has been highlighted to Council during the community outcomes process, previous ten year plan and annual plan consultations, and the resource consent process.  Experts advise that with the proposed offshore mussel farm the harbour project could create over 900 new jobs and add $27m to household income.  Independent assessments of options to improve the harbour entrance has identified the construction of two groynes as the most sustainable option.  While the resource consents for the groynes are likely to be confirmed in the current calendar year, the ten year plan proposes that the groyne construction does not commence until all funding is secured.  The level of ratepayer funding is proposed to be %5m by way of an external loan, costing the average ratepayer approximately $2.20 per week over a ten year peiod.  The remaining funding is expected to be from a combination of central government, regional government and private funding sources.  Investigations are progressing to secure external funding and the ten year plan will be amended once external funding becomes more certain.  Council's role in relation to the Harbour Development will become more certain following these investigations.  Without improving the harbour entrance, local employment opportunities will be minimal as the current entrance is typically very shallow, preventing large vessels from landing seafood products locally.