Environment court backs port

Port of Tauranga Ltd has received a second interim decision from the Environment Court confirming that resource consent will be granted for stage one of its planned berth extension at Sulphur Point. 

The decision requires some amendments to conditions proposed by the company and comes after a three-week hearing in March 2023.

That was followed by an interim decision released about a year ago requiring the port to undertake further engagement with local iwi, hapu and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

Stage one involves building 285 metres of extra berth to the south of Tauranga’s existing container berths, a small amount of reclamation behind the new wharf and associated dredging. 

Chief executive Leonard Sampson has welcomed the second interim in the wake of extensive follow-up work undertaken by the port as requested by the court. 

The court has determined that, from a western science perspective, the physical effects of the proposal are expected to be minor in the short term and negligible in the long term. 

“The extension is urgently required national infrastructure and we are keen to move as quickly as possible,” says Sampson. “To that end, we will evaluate the court’s decision and assess our options in relation to the impending fast-track legislation.”

The stage-one extension is part of the port’s proposed Stella Passage development, which includes a stage two to the Sulphur Point extension and works at the Mount Maunganui wharves. The whole development has been listed in the fast-track approvals legislation currently before parliament.