Boost for port project

Port of Tauranga says the Environment Court’s decision to provisionally grant resource consent for the initial phase of its wharf extension is “welcome progress”.

The interim decision, released last week, granted the company consent for stage one of Sulphur Point wharf’s extension if revised consent conditions put forward by the port are met over the next half-year.

This initial phase involved building a 285-metre-long berth to the south of the site’s existing container berths and carrying out dredging.

However, the court reserved its decision on granting consent for the project’s second stage, which includes more extensions to Sulphur Point and proposed works at the Mount Maunganui wharves, until the company provides additional information to the court within six months.

This includes completing an environment report on areas affected by port operations, carrying out three seafood surveys, and conducting “before and after” visual simulations to show how the view from a marae will be affected by the proposals.

Leonard Sampson, pictured, the port’s chief executive, describes the release of the interim decision as “very welcome progress”.

He adds: “We have some work to do over the next six months, but are grateful to be taking the next steps in what has been a long and gruelling process.”

The country’s largest port has been trying to get consent to extend its wharf since 2019. It has experienced regulatory complications and delays resulting in February’s long-awaited hearing before the Environment Court.