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<strong>October</strong>/November <strong>2021</strong> BAY OF PLENTY BUSINESS NEWS 3 Whakatane’s new Marine Precinct going through funding process Whakatane’s ambitious project to create a new boat harbour on the Whakatane River has been advancing its investigative works in preparation for filing its resource consent application in the next month or so. By DAVID PORTER Despite the elimination from parliament <strong>of</strong> Shane Jones, his leader Winston Peters and their party at the last election, the party’s Provincial Growth Fund commitment under the name <strong>of</strong> the new government entity known as Kānoa continues as a partner with Council and local iwi to fund what will likely become the first iwi/Māori owned marina facility in New Zealand. Phil Wardale, who was responsible for pulling together Tauranga’s Marine Precinct, took up the Project Director’s role in Whakatane with his team to advise and deliver the project. The yet-to-be-named Boat Harbour will be located adjacent to the river, on 10 ha <strong>of</strong> Māori owned land that has been unproductive for decades. <strong>Bay</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Plenty</strong> <strong>Business</strong> <strong>News</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>iled the project in the July/August issue. “The aim was to deliver more commercial berthage, and other much needed marine infrastructure,” Wardale told BOP <strong>Business</strong> <strong>News</strong>. Maori land contribution “When we first got involved, the idea was to try and get more berths alongside the river in town. But we ended up identifying a much larger plot <strong>of</strong> Māori land up the river.” Of the funding, $19.6 million has been provided by the Provincial Growth Fund for the build <strong>of</strong> the boat harbour, and $9.8 million is being contributed by Whakatane District Council. Wardale described the project as a “transformational partnership” between the Te Rāhui Lands Trust, the Crown, Ngāti Awa Group Holdings Limited, and the Whakatāne District Council. There are currently more than 1000 beneficial owners <strong>of</strong> the Māori land block. Wardale told BOP <strong>Business</strong> <strong>News</strong> that the project partners had yet to announce the name <strong>of</strong> the Boat Harbour, or the final makeup <strong>of</strong> the transformation partnership, which is scheduled to be announced during community conversations ahead <strong>of</strong> the filing <strong>of</strong> the resource consent application in <strong>October</strong>. “The first big task is to secure the resource consent for the development and we have been underway with the investigative works and drafting <strong>of</strong> the consent application for all <strong>of</strong> <strong>2021</strong>, and once the partnership is formally announced we will file the application.” Artist’s impression <strong>of</strong> proposed new waterfront development in Whakatane. Image/ supplied. Wardale, who has been trapped in Auckland while the latest lockdown was on, noted that even in his original programme he had not been expecting major construction works would commence before the end <strong>of</strong> <strong>2021</strong>. He said he looked forward to returning to Whakatane and engaging with the community on the final plans ahead <strong>of</strong> starting the process to source and select the civil works contractor to build the $25 million project. “Government and its many regional and national agencies have been very supportive to date,” he said, adding that usually when government commits to contribute to something there weren’t too many holdups. Wardale told BOP <strong>Business</strong> <strong>News</strong> previously that the new boat harbour would provide commercial boat operators and boat builders such as Extreme Boats on the East Coast with access to new facilities and new modern out <strong>of</strong> river berths, while increasing economic returns and providing opportunities for the local community. The Provincial Growth Fund had been all about helping regions grow, and this was a perfect example he said. Wardale said his company and team was busy across the country despite the lockdowns, with a large project in Wellington, two projects in Nelson and a PGF project in Wanganui that was similar in size and complexity to Whakatane. “We’re not sitting on our hands and are busy working with local government to plan or deliver new waterfront infrastructure in several towns and cities across the country.” There has never been a better time to sell your business. 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