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AUGUST 2009

On 29 July 2009, independent Hearing Commissioners appointed by Environment Bay of Plenty, Opotiki District Council and the Minister of Conservation granted a suite of coastal permits and land use consents for Opotiki District Council’s harbour access project.  This outcome was welcomed not only by the applicant, Opotiki District Council, but also by Harrison Grierson’s Director of Planning (Andrew Collins) and Whakatane Office Manager (Tim Fergusson) who had led the environmental and planning aspects of the project.

The project is a visionary one to divert the Waioeka/Otara river entrance through major training groynes so as to create a safe, reliable, all-weather harbour access so as to facilitate the development of major offshore aquaculture projects and town revitalisation projects. The project itself involves construction of a new river entrance, two 500 metre long training walls and erosion protection structures, a river diversion and extensive capital and maintenance dredging works. 

From a consenting point of view, Harrison Grierson took care to prepare the consent applications in a flexible and innovative manner to enable changes in design and construction methodology to be made through future “design and build” contract processes. To receive consents for such a major project in a natural coastal environment is a credit to the client and to the wider consultant team involved. It has been particularly pleasing that the resource consents have not been appealed and so a major milestone has been achieved.

The project has since been nominated for an NZPlanning Institute Project Award and the IPANZ (public sector) Awards and Harrison Grierson wishes Opotiki District Council all the best!

For more information on this news item contact our
Knowledge and Information Services at, kis@harrisongrierson.com