The likelihood of the Kawerau container terminal being built was called into question at a political event on Friday, but Sequal executive director David Turner says there is no change in plans.

At the Meet the Candidates event, organised by Kawerau Grey Power at the Kawerau Concert Chambers on Friday night, an audience member asked East Coast Labour candidate Tāmati Coffey about the container terminal project funded by central government.

KCT Co, of which Mr Turner is a director, was granted $9.6 million from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s Provincial Growth Fund in 2020 to build the container terminal and Sequal was awarded an additional $2.8 million to build an off-road highway connecting the industrial zone to the terminal.

The project was intended to create significant employment opportunities and attract further private sector investment, however, work has yet to begin.

When asked when this was likely to start Mr Coffey said he was nervous that it would not come about.

“It is no fault of the Government. The money has been sitting there, waiting for the execution of the project.”

He said he was unhappy there had been delays as Tauranga Port was still filled to the brim and needed excess space.

“I’m actually a bit nervous that Kawerau won’t get it. That it will go somewhere else, because somewhere else is a bit more ready.”

The audience member asked whether there was any truth to speculation that it had already been transferred to the new industrial area in Te Puke.

“I can’t confirm that,” Mr Coffey said.

Mr Turner told Local Democracy Reporting that though there had been hold-ups he expected them to be resolved within the next month or so.

“The opportunity is still very much a focus for us and it is under way. The hold-up with the terminal has been around the land ownership transfer of Norske and the new owner of that has been going through overseas investment office approval.

“That process obviously take a bit of time and we’re hopeful that within the next month or so that will be resolved. There is no change in our plans. The planning and design of that work is very much all done. [Kiwirail] are very keen to see the project succeed.”

Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air.