IMPROVED FACILITIES AND CLEANER ENVIRONMENT MISSION CRITICAL FOR COROMANDEL HARBOUR PROJECT

Improving the Coromandel Harbour with the development of better boating facilities and cleaning up the environment is the priority of our Council's COROMANDEL HARBOUR FACILITIES PROJECT.

"This project is in its very early stages, but we know that it will have major environmental and economic benefits for the Coromandel District," says Area Manager Greg Hampton, from the Thames-Coromandel District Council.

"Right now we're still just working on an environmental assessment, community feedback and feasibility of what can be done. "There is much more consultation and discussion to be had and we're in a scoping phase."

"We are also very aware that aquaculture and tourism are two very important sectors to the Coromandel," adds Mayor Glenn Leach. "We will be ensuring that these industries are protected and supported in any decision that is made around the future development of Coromandel Harbour."

"We also acknowledge that the Coromandel Harbour is a site where mine tailings were historically dumped and there are contaminants. We're working to find out what those contaminant levels are and any potential impact the project may have on the Harbour," says Mr Hampton.

"Once the feasibility work is completed there will be formal consultation on the findings and preferred option," says Mr Hampton

PROJECT MILESTONES

The first milestone of the project was looking at selected boat ramps and wharves in the Coromandel Harbour and assessing how these facilities might be improved to support recreational and commercial use.

This has also included investigative work around the viability of a commuter fast-ferry service running from Auckland to Coromandel Town.

The four areas of focus within Coromandel Harbour are:

• Coromandel Wharf

• The Sugarloaf Wharf

• Furey's Creek & Jack's Point Boat ramp

• Long Bay Reserve

As part of the first milestone there's been early stage consultation with iwi, commercial and recreational users, the aquaculture industry, environmental and community groups along with regional and central government.

The second milestone is a recommended option to go before Council by December. Working towards this second milestone Council and will continue meeting with stakeholders ahead of Council's December meeting.

HAVE YOUR SAY

A community open day is also planned for February 2014 to share and hear from everyone about the project.

MEANWHILE A PUBLIC ONLINE SURVEY asking for feedback on ways Coromandel Harbour boat facilities can be improved and developed closes at 5pm Monday 25 November.

"The online survey was to originally close at 5pm Friday 23 November but the submission numbers are lower than what we would like, which is why we have decided to extend the feedback period," says "This is an important project and we want to ensure we have canvassed as many views as we can," says Mr Hampton.

TO TAKE ONLINE SURVEY ABOUT THE COROMANDEL HARBOUR FACILITIES PROJECT GO TO HERE

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT GO HERE

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