December 15 2016

MEDIA RELEASE

Kaikoura harbour grant welcomed by the community

Kaikoura District Council welcomes the $5m grant from government to enable work to commence immediately on the remediation of the harbour.

Angela Oosthuizen, Chief Executive, says “The Ministers’ announcement today is great news for the Kaikoura community. Our harbours are a vital lifeline and we need to get them operational again as soon as possible. The (November 14, 7.8 magnitude) earthquake forced the seabed up by up to two metres in some places, which has severely restricted access to the region by sea. While scoping work has been done already, today’s funding support means we will now be able to move into a work programme to make the harbours and ramps safe and functional again.”

The works to be undertaken are immediate preventive and remedial measures required to remove the uplifted seabed and to allow the harbours and ramps to function as safe harbours and as lifeline facilities.

Environment Canterbury’s Chief Executive, Bill Bayfield, has also welcomed the news.

“An operational harbour is a vital part of the Kaikoura community. Environment Canterbury will be working closely with Kaikoura District Council to add our expertise to theirs to help ensure an environmentally sound outcome that also addresses the needs of this community. The government grant means Kaikoura can now engage the right contracted resources to commence a remediation work programme as quickly as possible to allow the harbours and ramps to function safely and as significant lifeline facilities. Environment Canterbury will be doing all we can to support this work.”

Angela Oosthuizen adds “The next steps will be to engage the right contractors and to work with the many external parties who have an interest in the harbours and who can provide expertise, to ensure we move quickly and efficiently. I am personally delighted that the government has been able to support Kaikoura with this grant. They are listening to us and have responded to our immediate needs.”

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