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Tauranga Bridge Marina's lengthy battle to develop a four metre high, 245 metre long breakwater structure amid opposition from the Port of Tauranga and the NZ Transport Agency may be resolved in coming weeks.

The company is currently applying for a coastal permit to construct a rock wall breakwater around its northern perimeter to protect the marina in northerly storms and future-proof it from ongoing Port of Tauranga expansion.

Tauranga Bridge Marina manager Tony Arnold with a picture of a breakwater structure at a another marina. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

The application relates to a Restricted Coastal Activity consent to 'construct, maintain and occupy space, associated with a breakwater structure, located within the Coastal Marina Area, of the Tauranga Harbour”.

The proposal is for the structure to be built in two sections. The first section will be a solid rock structure 70m in length, extending from the northern corner of the existing reclamation in a northwest direction towards the Whareroa Channel.

The remainder of the structure will comprise of a pile and pre-cast panel structure that will follow the alignment of the existing wave attenuator.

In a report, Bay of Plenty Regional Council acting team leader Dylan Makgill says the principle basis for redesigning the breakwater is to address 'technical concerns relating to potential hydrodynamic effects and encroachment within the Port of Tauranga's identified dredging footprint”.

The bridge marina is currently protected by a 3.6m wide pontoon around the northern extent of the marina. It was intended to reduce the wave height within the marina, but it has not performed to expectation.

The current application has received a total of 52 submissions – 43 supporting it, two neutral and seven opposing.

Those opposing the project include the NZTA and Ngati Ranginui Iwi Society, citing concerns of the effect on relationship of Maori with Tauranga Harbour, effects on tidal flows and the erosion of port infrastructure.

The Port of Tauranga originally opposed the breakwater structure as well, but has since told SunLive it now supports the project, after having its concern remedied via the regional's council's hearing earlier this month.

On March 3, submitters were given a chance before the regional council's three Independent Commissioners' Hearing to state their reasons for opposing the marine development.

At the hearing, the Port of Tauranga said they believed (at the time) the original design showed the toe of the structure being within close proximity to the extent of the dredging footprint – potentially affecting scour and deposition, changes to current velocities and potential stability issues of the structure.

The Port was issued with a coastal permit in December 2011 by Conservation Minister Nick Smith, providing for future dredging in various locations throughthe Port Zone portion of the Tauranga Harbour.

Following the one-day hearing, Tauranga Bridge Marina manager Tony Arnold is still holding out hope the application will be finally approved, firmly believing they have produced a thorough consultation process.

'We have done our consultation process properly and we have worked through all our issues with the main objectors. We think we have basically crossed our t's and dotted our i's,” says Tony.

'It [the issues] was mainly just about boundaries for the port's dredging and our post and panel wall, and just a couple of issues with cultural impact on the panels and motifs on them and colouring.”

Tony says the forecasted Tropical Cyclone Lusi could highlight the importance of such the breakwater structure, with the marina last sustaining damage in a northerly storm in 2006.

Vessels at the marina have been damaged in storms, breaking mooring lines, or even breaking loose. The marina structure itself has been damaged with connecting bolts between the pontoons being broken, as well as pontoons incurring damage.

'It [the breakwater structure] will be nice because I'm currently sleeping with one eye open as the cyclone approaches.

'I'm up all the night watching how Lusi is tracking at the moment. That's all this is about, protecting this marina – it's not about extending it, and it's about protecting the asset that we have.”

A final decision is not expected for a couple of weeks.