The Thames-Coromandel District Council says it will be seeking more feedback on its Tairua Wharf Redevelopment Project.

Last year the Tairua Mary Beach Boat Ramp Working Group and Tairua Community Board approved a draft concept plan which included several improvements to the wharf and ramp.

Tairua Wharf. Photo: File

Tairua-Pauanui Area Manager Garry Towler explains the plan had been drafted with indicative costs, which both the working group and community board endorsed to go out for community feedback.

'However, it was highlighted at the time, that the concept plans only had a provisional cost for the construction of a rock wall, which is part of the redevelopment,” he says.

'As engineering costs have now been quantified, there's a high probability that project costs will go over budget. We are therefore taking this information back to the working group for consideration.”

Council has set the budget for the project at $1.2 million.

Tairua board chair Bob Renton says they are extremely mindful that they are not going out for a gold-plated piece of infrastructure.

But the board is aware that the wharf has only about a three to six year life span before significant maintenance is needed to meet health and safety requirements, he says.

'There's been significant cost-benefit analysis done on this project and given the age, as well as limited engineering information and associated unknown risks raised, a rebuild was considered the most appropriate option,” Bob says.

'We have also continued to listen to community feedback on the project, the most recent being through consultation late last year.”

Following last year's public consultations a total of 48 submissions were received by council on the project – with 60 per cent of submissions made by resident ratepayers, with the remainder being non-resident.

The working group will meet early in March, followed by an extraordinary meeting of the Tairua-Pauanui Community Board shortly afterwards to consider their recommendations. The date for the board meeting is still to be confirmed.

WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE DRAFT CONCEPT PLAN:

• Rebuilding the wharf in the same location, in wood and making it wider (4m) so vehicles can drive on to load boats.
• A new wharf pontoon to provide additional loading space for the ferry, which goes between Tairua and Pauanui.
• Widening and improving the existing boat ramp to help with launching at low tide. An additional two new 30-metre floating pontoons are proposed to help boat launching at all tides;
• This development of approximately 17 new trailer boat parks (which could also be used as normal car parks) providing a total of 40 trailer boat parks in the immediate area.

RESULTS FROM PUBLIC SUBMISSIONS ON THE DRAFT CONCEPT PLAN:

• 80 per cent agreed with rebuilding wharf
• 75 per cent agreed with a new pontoon at the end of the wharf
• 70 per cent agreed with boat ramp improvements
• 60 per cent agreed with the proposed parking arrangements

For more information visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's website at: www.tcdc.govt.nz/tairuawharf