The denial of an application to extend and develop the marina zone at Waikawa is a landmark decision for top of the south iwi and the wider community, a Te Atiawa iwi member says.
Independent commissioners on Thursday released their decision that denies Port Marlborough's application to extend the marina zone to the northwest, but approved three mooring management areas.
Iwi member Sue Buchanan said the decision recognised the special connections and the strong sense of belonging the iwi and other residents have to Waikawa Bay.
"It's a precedent in that our history, cultural and spiritual values [were seen to] have equal standing among other things held valuable to Port Marlborough," she said.
The port's application to extend the marina zone would have let it apply to the Marlborough District Council to extend the marina, starting with 250 berths on the northwest side of the marina.
Te Atiawa opposed the application because of the environmental impact the development would have on the seabed, making the environment unsustainable.
Mrs Buchanan said the iwi were "jubilant" about the decision but were waiting for Port Marlborough's response.
Iwi member Bentham Ohia said the opposition to the proposal was about future-proofing the area.
"We want it to continue to be accessible for all, not just to those who can afford it," he said.
Rita Powick said the next step was to work with the community, the council and Port Marlborough to protect and enhance Waikawa Bay.
"It is a significant kaimoana (seafood) site for us. We want to be a major factor in turning the area around so it can produce kaimoana stocks for everyone," she said.
The iwi had done their best to present their case to the commissioners in November, with support and submissions from throughout the country and a hikoi just days before the hearing. This all gave the iwi confidence, she said.
"You have faith in the [hearing] process and you put up the best delivery you can and we firmly believe we did."
Linda Ohia said the hearing was a chance for Te Atiawa and Port Marlborough to "actually hear what people were saying".
The hearing was a breakthrough for both parties understanding each other and an opportunity for the "people not often heard" to have their say.
Port company ponders options
Port Marlborough will spend the week deciding the next move after its application to extend the marina zone at Waikawa was rejected by hearings commissioners.
The port company applied to the Marlborough District Council to have the Marlborough Sounds Resource Management Plan changed so it could extend the marina zone northwest of the existing marina and create three mooring management zones.
If the application had been accepted, the port company could have gone through the resource consent process to extend the marina.
The application was heard by three independent commissioners in November. Their decision, released last week, rejected the application to extend the marina zone but approved changes to mooring management, which will create three mooring management areas. A moorings manager would be appointed to issue licences to mooring owners in place of the existing resource consent process.
Port Marlborough chief executive Ian McNabb said this morning the company would review the full decision this week before commenting further. Taking an appeal to the Environment Court was just one of the options it would consider, he said.
Port Marlborough wanted to build 250 new berths on the northwest side of Waikawa marina, with potential for another 250 berths on the northeast side, which is already a marina zone.
Mr McNabb said there were 22 vacant eight or nine-metre berths but these could take only smaller boats. More than 180 people were on the waiting list for larger berths.
Waikawa Boating Club commodore Nicky Jenkins said the decision to reject the marina extension did not have any major impact on the club at this stage, although it would be "the icing on the cake" for the club if it eventually did go ahead. "If the marina was extended it would bring in more people and potentially increase our membership, which is already in good heart," she said.
Boating club member Gill Moore said the extension would be necessary even if this was not the right time for it. Recent factors such as the recession and the Christchurch earthquake appeared to have dampened demand.
- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG
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