Second Interim decision by the Environment Court

Second interim decision of the Environment Court
Port of Tauranga Limited has received a second interim decision of the
Environment Court confirming that resource consent will be granted for
stage one of its planned Sulphur Point berth extension.

The decision requires some specific amendments to the conditions
proposed by Port of Tauranga. Today’s decision comes after a three-week
Court hearing in March 2023, followed by an interim decision released just
over a year ago requiring Port of Tauranga to undertake further
engagement with local iwi and hapū and the Bay of Plenty Regional
Council.

Stage one involves constructing 285 metres of additional berth to the
south of the Port’s existing container berths, a small amount of
reclamation behind the new wharf and associated dredging.

Port of Tauranga Chief Executive, Leonard Sampson, said the second
interim decision was welcome, following the extensive follow-up work
undertaken by the Port as requested by the Court. The Court has
determined that, from a western science perspective, the physical effects
of the proposal are expected to be minor in the short-term and negligible
in the long-term.

“The extension is urgently required national infrastructure and we are
keen to move as quickly as possible. To that end, we will evaluate the
Court’s second interim decision and assess our options in relation to the
impending fast-track legislation,” he said.

The stage one extension is one part of the Port’s proposed Stella Passage
development, which includes a stage two to the Sulphur Point extension
as well as proposed works at the Mount Maunganui wharves. The entirety
of the development has been listed as a project in the Fast Track
Approvals Legislation currently before Parliament.

For further details, please contact:
Rochelle Lockley
GM Communications, Port of Tauranga Limited
Ph 021 865 884
Media Release
16 DECEMBER 2024