Port of Tauranga nears finish-line in Stella Passage consent battle
The draft decision follows a consenting process that has taken seven years to complete.
The Port of Tauranga is on the verge of securing its Stella Passage expansion under the government's expedited consenting process, according to a statement released to the NZX. The proposed development entails extending the Sulphur Point container berth by 385 meters and the Mount Maunganui wharves by 315 meters. This is achieved through the conversion of existing cargo storage land within the port's boundaries, alongside further land reclamation behind the new wharves and dredging of the Stella Passage.
Port of Tauranga CEO Leonard Sampson expressed his satisfaction with the draft decision, emphasizing the project's significance for both regional and national economies. He highlighted the potential economic advantages, cost reductions for importers and exporters, and the creation of new decarbonisation opportunities. However, the draft approval is not without conditions, as it must still undergo review by the fast-track expert panel, whose unpublished conditions have not been disclosed to the public.
Port of Tauranga has been given two days to respond to these proposed conditions, and other interested parties are also invited to provide feedback.
This development marks the culmination of a seven-year-long consenting process that has seen the project navigate through Resource Management Act hearings, environment court proceedings, and legal challenges regarding environmental and cultural impacts. Initially, the Port of Tauranga withdrew its fast-track application in January before resubmitting it under amended legislation later that month.
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