Te Rāhui Herenga Waka Whakatāne Commercial Boat Harbour Project to end
The Te Rāhui Herenga Waka Whakatāne Commercial Boat Harbour Project will not proceed after a rescoping of the project was assessed to no longer meet the original aspirations of the Limited Partners.
Te Rāhui Herenga Waka Whakatāne Limited Board Chair John Rae says he has received advice from the Partners - Whakatāne District Council, Te Rāhui Lands Limited Partnership and Crown Regional Holdings Limited, advising of a “difficult but unanimous decision” to unwind the project and dissolve the legal entities associated with it.
“The decision to not proceed with the project was made on the basis of concerns with a number of changes necessitated by the project rescope, including the significant reduction in size of the land remediation component; substantial changes to the broader project scope - such as the removal or reduction of the marine training facility, the reduced number of berths, the size of the hardstand and removal of the dedicated offloading wharf - and the diminished economic and community benefits that underpinned the original business case.”
“The Partners also cited ongoing uncertainty and risks of further delays and cost escalations noting that a disposal site has not been confirmed or the associated resource consent held for the disposal of contaminated material from the site.”
“The Partners had previously said that no further funding was available from any of them beyond what has already been committed to the Project.”
“All of these issues have collectively led the Partners to the conclusion that the project can no longer meet its original aspirations and outcomes within the funding available.”
“The Board will now work through a process to dissolve the Limited Partnership structure and to terminate all existing legal arrangements connected to the Project.”
“I would like to thank the Partners for their acknowledgement of the Board. Their letter recognised the significant efforts and expertise that the Board has invested in navigating a complex project.”
“The Partners thanked the Board for its dedication and skill in pursuing the shared project vision.”
“Unfortunately, in the end, the complexities of the project were too high for the Partners to proceed with comfort and certainty, with the funding available.”
For all media enquiries and information requests, please direct your correspondence to media@whakatane.govt.nz
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