Proposals for new marina go back years
Port Taranaki is the only major port in New Zealand without a modern sheltered marina – and it looks like it will stay that way for the foreseeable future.
After a $70,000 launch sank at the New Plymouth marina last week the subject of a marina redevelopment has come up again.
But none of the stakeholders appear to want to take a lead – and the debate has been going on for years.
In 1976 the Taranaki Daily News told its readers that plans for an ‘‘extensive’’ marina for Port Taranaki had been approved, in principle, by the port’s board. It was to be built over the next few years.
Then in June 2007, the paper ran a story detailing plans for a $29 million marina at Port Taranaki. The development was to happen over the next five years.
The two plans, drawn up 31 years apart, both sank without trace.
The existing marina is privately owned by New Plymouth Marina Limited, which leases the site from Port Taranaki.
Port Taranaki owns and maintains the lee breakwater, the adjacent car park, the boat ramp, the children’s fishing jetties, the eastern reclamation and Ocean View Parade in partnership with Nga¯ ti Te Whiti.
Port Taranaki is owned by the Taranaki Regional Council (TRC).
New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) does not own any part of the site but maintains the amenities such as toilets, open spaces, picnic tables, benches and play equipment at Nga¯motu Beach.
In 2017, developing a marina at the eastern end of the port to boost the region’s economy was one of the NPDC’s 10 focus points. Any development would have needed to be carried out in partnership with Port Taranaki and Nga¯ ti Whiti.
Again, the idea failed to float. New Plymouth district councillor Murray Chong said no-one wanted to take responsibility for a new development.
‘‘The council say, well, it’s TRC and the TRC say it’s the port and the port go ‘we’re commercial not recreational’ . . . I’ve insisted many times we need a feasibility study to prove that it would be the best thing for our council to invest in. The economic impact would be huge.’’
The TRC isn’t looking at improving or doing any work on the marina or the eastern side of the port, director corporate services Mike Nield said in an emailed statement.
Nield was asked if the TRC would look at applying to the Government’s regional development fund to pay for a redevelopment, but said it was ‘‘not a matter’’ for the regional council.
In an emailed statement, Port Taranaki chief executive Guy Roper said the company was in regular discussion with users regarding facilities in the area, and was open to discussing with investors any possible developments for port-owned land.
‘‘Port Taranaki’s core business is providing world-class transport and logistics services to the maritime industry, as well as importers and exporters, and the oil and gas industry.’’
Recreation and leisure was not part of the port’s core business, but they were open to discussing options with potential investors, Roper said.
A NPDC spokesman declined to comment.