Background
Coastal shipping vessels used the Opotiki Harbour until the mid-1960s, but since then, the Waioeka River mouth has deteriorated to the point where only vessels drawing less than 0.5 metres can enter and exit and the channel into the harbour is generally inoperable two hours either side of low tide on calm days. Adverse weather conditions further reduce harbour access.
Those difficulties are not only a significant barrier to commercial activities related to the marine environment, but also have marine safety implications. To do its job effectively, Opotiki Coastguard needs reliable access through the harbour mouth and there have been several instances where the Coastguard vessel has not been able to return to port after completing rescue work.
Over the past decade, Opotiki has been preparing for economic growth. A number of opportunities have been identified, centred on the development and protection of our natural environment. Foremost amongst these is the aquacultural venture proposed by Eastern Sea Farms Limited, a company in which the Whakatohea Maori Trust Board has a majority shareholding.
In 2006, Eastern Sea Farms was granted a permit to establish a 3,800-hectare mussel farm; the country’s largest, six kilometres off the coast from Opotiki township. To capture the greatest possible benefit from this venture (and position the district as a home for other future aquaculture developments) it is essential that the onshore servicing and mussel processing facilities involved are based in Opotiki.
Put simply, the Eastern Sea Farms venture has the potential to transform our economy and community and bring significant benefits to the wider Eastern Bay of Plenty community and the greater Bay of Plenty region. Our water and wastewater systems are easily capable of dealing with the new industry’s needs. All that is required is safe, reliable access through the river mouth to the harbour.
Over the past three years, the Opotiki District Council has led an intensive effort – assisted by a number of key funding, professional and technical partners – to develop a proposal to upgrade the entrance into the Opotiki Harbour so that a minimum channel depth of about 4 metres is maintained for most of the time That project has now advanced to the point where a preferred training wall structure, involving parallel groynes, has been identified and detailed engineering, environmental impact and cost studies undertaken. Resource Consent applications for the project were lodged with Environment BoP (The Bay of Plenty Regional Council) in November 2008 and notified for public submissions.
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