HARBOURING WEALTH

The local wharf where many enjoy spending time dangling their lines, and catching kaimoana.



The Opotiki Harbour is in the local limelight this week.

It has been subject to a resource consent hearing lodged by the council for an all-weather harbour entrance at the mouth of the Waioeka River.

If consent is granted it is hoped that an aquaculture venture, the largest in New Zealand, will be one of the beneficiaries. Eastern Sea Farms,the mussel farm licence-holder, intended to begin a 2 -3 year commercial mussel trial later this year. If the trial is successful, commercial development, subject to having suitable harbour access improvements, will commence.

When anything as major as this anticipated project is planned, all affected parties and/or groups get to have a say on the effects of such a project.

Whilst there is the potential for the harbour development to transform our economy here in Opotiki, and that of the Eastern Bay, and perhaps even the wider Bay of Plenty, lots of other factors are to be considered. The plight of the endangered northern New Zealand Dotterels, is one of those factors. These birds nest on the sand spit and two other areas in Opotiki, and Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society is deeply concerned that a threatened species breeding site may be destroyed in the name of economic progress for a project with uncertain outcomes.

The aforementioned are only 2 of many factors being considered. And as is often the case it is about progress versus ecology.

What we are grateful for is the democratic system that allows for all parties to be heard, and knowing a decision will be based on all the information presented.

We know, whatever the outcome of this resource consent, there is a wealth associated with our harbour and district that is priceless.

Be it mussels or Dotterels, we are in a win, win situation.