A Business Case to improve the Tairua Mary Beach Wharf and Boat Ramp has been approved by the Tairua-Pauanui Community Board this month.

Options in the business case include redeveloping the wharf, widening and improvements to the existing boat ramp, trailer boat parking options, plus additional funding options for user charging.

This month the Tairua-Pauanui Community Board approved a business case to improve the Tairua Mary Beach Wharf and Boat Ramp. Photo: TCDC

During Thames-Coromandel District Council's Long Term Plan deliberations a budget of $1.2million, locally funded from Tairua depreciation reserves and a $120,000 loan, was also approved.

Tairua-Pauanui Community Board Chair Bob Renton says the key to this project is to ensure they recognise the historic values of the wharf.

'[All] while providing a quality facility that will be used by the Tairua community today and attract visitors and economic development to the town into the future.”

Council staff will now go back to the Tairua Mary Beach Wharf Working Group to investigate the best options to improve the wharf and boat ramp so a work plan can be finalised.

The working group is made up of users, community board members plus council staff, and will help with final concepts which will then go out for community input.

Two condition assessments of the facility carried out in 2011 and 2014 found the wharf now only has a three to six year life span, as well as health and safety issues.

Based on those assessments the project will be broken down into three work strands.

The first is to ensure there is continued safe operation of the Tairua Wharf, while the second will be to improve the boat launching ramp, beside the wharf.

The third strand will be to provide adequate trailer boat parking beside the wharf and boat ramp to address summer peak demand period.

'We understand and appreciate a lot of historical work already been done on the Boat Ramp and Wharf project,” says Bob. 'There is budget in our Long Term Plan assured to the project, so now's the time to get it off the ground.

'It's now up to the community and ratepayers to make decisions for today.”

For more information about the Tairua Mary Beach Wharf and Boat Ramp project click here.