Community groups in the Bay of Plenty are being asked to present ‘wish lists' to the owners and insurers of the grounded cargo ship Rena for possible court ordered restoration and mitigation projects.

The Rena hit the Astrolabe Reef nearly two years ago – on October 5, 2011 – and currently the ship's owners and insurers' are planning to file a resource consent, which will determine the fate of the remainder of the wreck on the reef.

Wood and other debris from the Rena washed up on Motiti Island following the grounding of the ship.

As result they're now asking community groups to put forward ideas that may form part of an eventual ruling by the Environment Court.

Rena projects spokesman Hugo Shanahan says discussions are being held with community without prejudice.

The Motiti Island community, which has come up with an extensive list of possible mitigation and restoration works, does not prejudice its position by opposing the Rena owners and insurers during the resource consent process.

But while the Motiti Island group has put forward its ‘wish list', some members of the Bay of Plenty community have gone public this week, rejecting the list of possible works as bribes.

The projects, which have all been suggested by Motiti islanders, include an all-tide barge landing ramp, a good piled wharf, cell phone tower, and all-weather access to the airstrip.

'The discussions are being held without prejudice, and are background,” says Hugo.

'Before the owners' most recent visits there were a series of workshop discussions about if they go down the consent path, and the Environment Court puts in place some sort of restoration mitigation package as part of any consent application,” explains Hugo.

'[So we've asked] What do those affected parties think restoration should look like? So groups related to the island got together and a series of ideas were put forward. They were only proposed ideas put forward by those connected to the island, so they haven't been put forward by the owner or the insurer.”

The Rena owners attended a hui on Motiti Island to update the islanders about where they are at, not just on the operational side of things, but where they are placed in relation to the consents application process and so forth, says Hugo.

Towards the end of the hui there was a brief discussion about the restoration projects, and the islanders said they reject them.

'The discussion about what restoration projects might look like has been held with other groups as well across the community, not just Motiti Island,” says Hugo.

'The court will end up determining what the restoration and mitigation might be – and it's all contingent upon a resource consent.

'The key point to these discussions, around these projects, is it was made really clear that they were without prejudice. So absolutely no way does it undermine any group's position to elect whether they wish to oppose or support any resource consent application. That was a very important point that the owners stressed.”

The Rena owners and insurers are expected to file a resource consent application towards the end of the year. Resource consent is required for the remainder of the Rena's hull to be left on the Astrolabe Reef. Two Motiti iwi – Motiti iwi Motiti Te Patuwai and Ngai te hapu –seek full removal.

The consent application is going to focus on the wreck's future effects on the reef, says Hugo.

Rena owners and insurers are completing environmental impact assessments, wrapping up sampling.

The staged approach has worked through the bow reduction by salvors, and cleaning up the debris field.

'Further assessments did show that the accommodation block presented a future liability in terms of debris coming ashore, so that's coming off,” says Hugo.

Removal of the accommodation block is expected to be underway this spring.