Benefits of Motueka ferry questioned
The proposed ferry link between Whanganui and Motueka needs to fit with the community’s vision for the town’s future, says former Our Town Motueka chairman Johnny O’Donnell.
‘‘Residents cannot get caught up in thinking any opportunity for the town is good.’’ Vision Motueka Development Trust’s recent survey of 326 residents found 86 per cent believed the proposal by Whanganui-based Midwest Ferries would be good for the town’s economy, although there were concerns about environmental and infrastructure impacts.
Co-author of the proposal’s feasibility study, Nik Zangouropoulos, told Tasman District councillors earlier this month the initial once–a–day service would be a one-ship operation focussing on freight. It would provide around 120 jobs, a third of them in Motueka.
A passenger ferry would come later, he said. Zangouropoulos asked the council for $170,000 to develop a detailed business case.
O’Donnell said he liked the idea of exploring the opportunity. ‘‘But I have to be convinced the freight operation will deliver sufficient jobs to warrant significant infrastructure changes and environmental impacts.
‘‘We have to be fully confident of its long-term viability to justify the impacts on Motueka’s roading network, the Motueka Valley highway, the estuary and sandspit environment.
‘‘My criticism is the environmental impacts, particularly on Motueka’s sandspit, are an afterthought.’’
The community first needed to develop a long-term vision for the town’s development, rather than simply reacting to an idea, he said.
‘‘Motueka is in a good space. New residents are moving in and tourism is growing. But because we are not 100 per cent confident of our identity we have nothing to assess this proposal against,’’O’Donnell said.
‘‘We can’t put the horse before the cart.’’
Tasman District councillor for Motueka David Ogilvie, said the proposal seemed to be a ‘‘nice to have’’ but he was nervous about the environmental implications, particularly on the estuary, and the costs.
‘‘It has to be proved to be a viable option.’’
The council has yet to discuss funding for the business case, he said.
Analysis of the online Vision Motueka survey, run over four weeks, showed 60 per cent of respondents lived in or near Motueka. Of that group 72 per cent favoured the proposal.
However half of the Motueka respondents’ main concerns included possible damage to the sand spit, port, Moutere Estuary and extra traffic on local and feeder roads.
Asked what aspects of the ferry proposal excited them, the two highest scoring answers were ‘‘more jobs for Motueka people’’ and ‘‘I would personally use the ferry’’.
Other perceived benefits included a greater number of visitors to the town and shops and the project providing an opportunity for further industrial and recreational development of the port area.