Project referred to expert consenting panel
1 Name of project
The name of the project is the Te Ariki Tahi/Sugarloaf Wharf upgrade (the project).
2 Authorised person
The authorised person for the project is Ariki Tahi Sugarloaf Wharf Limited.
3 Description of project
The scope of the project is to upgrade the existing wharf facilities at Te Ariki Tahi/Sugarloaf Wharf, including by—
(a)
disturbing the coastal marine area by excavating and dredging approximately 29,000 cubic metres of the seabed to construct a new access channel; and
(b)
draining and reclaiming approximately 6,000 square metres from parts of the coastal marine area; and
(c)
depositing fill (including dredged material) in the coastal marine area; and
(d)
constructing a seawall in the coastal marine area; and
(e)
constructing and operating a wharf facility for commercial users that will provide—
(ii)
storage areas for vehicles and other equipment; and
(iv)
parking areas for vehicles and boat trailers; and
(f)
constructing and operating a separate wharf facility for recreational users that will include—
(i)
a rock groyne approximately 25 metres long; and
(iii)
parking for vehicles and boat trailers; and
(g)
relocating the existing boat maintenance grid facility from its current location to the eastern side of the new recreational wharf; and
(h)
providing a single-lane boat ramp as access to the relocated boat maintenance grid facility; and
(i)
upgrading the provision for vehicle access to the project site from Te Kouma Road; and
(j)
constructing and installing ancillary infrastructure, including for three waters services, security, lighting, signage, and facilities such as a kiosk and toilets.
4 Description of activities involved in project
The project may involve the following activities:
(a)
draining or reclaiming parts of the coastal marine area:
(b)
disturbing the coastal marine area, including by excavating and dredging the seabed for the purpose of constructing an access channel:
(c)
periodically removing dredged material from the coastal marine area, including after the project is completed:
(d)
periodically depositing dredged material in the coastal marine area, including after the project is completed:
(e)
erecting and placing structures on or in, or above the water of, the coastal marine area, including the following:
(iii)
a piled rock groyne structure; and
(v)
structures for boat maintenance:
(f)
carrying out earthworks on land:
(g)
constructing and operating wharf facilities:
(h)
constructing the following infrastructure:
(i)
infrastructure for the berthing and maintenance of boats; and
(ii)
infrastructure for the storage of vehicles and other equipment; and
(iii)
infrastructure for three waters services; and
(iv)
infrastructure for site security, and
(v)
infrastructure for amenities such as signage, a kiosk, and toilets:
(i)
constructing vehicle access and parking areas:
(j)
discharging stormwater run-off and contaminants into the coastal marine area:
(k)
occupying the coastal marine area:
(l)
carrying out any other activities that are—
(i)
associated with the activities described in paragraphs (a) to (k); and
(ii)
within the scope of the project as described in clause 3 of this schedule.
5 Approximate geographical location
The project will occur—
(a)
within parts of the coastal marine area at Waipapa Bay, south of Coromandel Harbour; and
(b)
on reclaimed land at 260 Te Kouma Road, Coromandel that is vested in the Crown under the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011.
6 Further information to be submitted
(1)
The following information must be submitted to the panel with any consent application relating to the project (in addition to the information required by clause 9 of Schedule 6 of the Act):
(a)
an assessment of the effects of the project on the ecology of the area within and near the project site, including an assessment of—
(i)
the effects of the project on the benthic ecology and coastal birds within and near to the project site; and
(ii)
the biosecurity risks arising from the project; and
(b)
an assessment of the effects of the project on coastal processes; and
(c)
an assessment of the effects of the project on water quality due to sedimentation and the discharge of heavy metals from—
(ii)
ongoing stormwater discharges:
(iii)
discharges from the boat maintenance grid facility; and
(d)
an assessment of how the project aligns with the Waikato Regional Council’s Climate Change Guideline: Integrated Catchment Management (September 2017); and
(e)
an acoustic assessment of the project, including an assessment of the effects on the people in the neighbourhood of operational noise from the proposed commercial wharf.
(2)
Information is also required on the applicant’s legal right to access and use existing reclaimed land at Te Ariki Tahi/Sugarloaf Wharf, including any relevant procedural or legal requirements under the Resource Management Act 1991 or the Marine and Coastal Area (Takutai Moana) Act 2011.
7 Persons who must be invited to comment on project
An expert consenting panel must invite comments on any consent application relating to the project from the following persons in addition to the persons listed in clause 17(6) of Schedule 6 of the Act:
(a)
the harbourmaster, Waikato Regional Council; and
(b)
the Waipapa Bay Protection Society.
9 No further provision required
No further provision is necessary to give effect to decisions made by the Minister under section 24 of the Act in respect of the project.
Statement of reasons
This statement of reasons is published for the purposes of clause 4 of Schedule 3 of the Act
The Minister for the Environment and the Minister of Conservation have accepted this application for referral. The Ministers considered the application against the criteria in the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 (the Act) and the Act’s purpose, and sought and considered written comments from the relevant Ministers, local authorities, Pare Hauraki Kaimoana, and the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association. The Ministers have accepted this application for the following reasons:
the project will help to achieve the purpose of the Act:
the project will generate employment by providing approximately 95 direct full-time equivalent jobs over the 18-month construction period and enable approximately 367 indirect full-time equivalent jobs once the project is complete:
the project will provide infrastructure to improve employment and economic outcomes in the aquaculture industry, and support ongoing investment in, and development of, commercial aquaculture in the Waikato-East region:
the project will enhance social well-being in the region—
(a)
by improving access to the coastal marine area for recreational use; and
(b)
by providing infrastructure that is safe to use, caters for the needs of users, and is resilient to natural hazards and the effects of climate change:
the project is likely to progress faster than would otherwise be the case under the Resource Management Act 1991 standard processes:
any actual and potential effects on the environment, and proposed mitigation measures, can be appropriately tested by an expert consenting panel against Part 2 of the Resource Management Act 1991 and the purpose of the Act.