Coromandel Marine Farmers Association's plans to expand Sugarloaf Wharf by been put on hold for at least six months, says the Thames-Coromandel District Council.

CoroMFA spokesperson Gilbert James says that due to an appeal about the zoning of the Sugarloaf Wharf under council's proposed new district plan, the association is putting it's expansions plans on hold while the nature of this appeal is being clarified.

Sugarloaf Wharf. File Photo.

The expansion plans will be put on hold for six months while the CoroMFA gathers more information. The entire appeal process could take between 12 to 18 months to fully and finally resolve.

The new zone being proposed for the Sugarloaf is a Marine Service Zone.

'For our organisation, this proposed new zone is preferable, as leaving it un-zoned would mean mussel farming wharf operations at the Sugarloaf would mostly have non-complying activity status,” says Gilbert.

In the interim, the CoroMFA and council will continue to implement some of the commitments made in a Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier this year.

This includes working together on operational and compliance improvements to help alleviate health and safety and congestion issues at the Sugarloaf Wharf.