Funding Shortfall Endangers Māpua Boat Ramp

Wednesday, 26 June 2024, 7:47 pm
Article: Max Frethey - Local Democracy Reporter

A lack of funding could put a permanent end to the Māpua boat ramp project.

Last week, Tasman District Council approved $150,000 to cover the processing costs for the project’s resource consent hearing, but the trust overseeing the project is warning that the ramp is now at risk.

The council also declined to approve two additional $50,000 sums, to contribute to the Māpua Community Boat Ramp Trust’s legal representation at the hearing and for further reports.

Though the council report on the topic states that the trust made those three funding requests, the trust maintains that it never asked for its legal representation to be funded by the council.

Trust chairman Andrew Butler acknowledged the council’s support but added that even with the additional funding of $150,000 secured, the trust might still be unable to reach the hearing stage.

He said council staff have advised the trust that a hearing could cost up to $300,000.

Only having half the potential cost for the hearing covered, while also not having secured funding for its legal representation and additional reports, leaves the trust with a potential shortfall of $250,000.

“The shortfallis a concern for the trust, and they will need to review their financial situation,” Butler said.

“If we don’t have the funding we can’t do it.”

Butler wasn’t happy with where the boat ramp project was sitting, but he wasn’t critical of the council either.

“This is just the situation we find ourselves in.”

The council has previously earmarked $700,000 towards the project, almost $320,000 of which has now been allocated (inclusive of the $150,000 approved last week).

Councillor Christeen Mackenzie described the situation as “tricky”.

She said the bulk of the $700,000 had been intended for construction of the boat ramp facility rather than covering the cost of securing a resource consent, but this hadn’t been formally specified in the original agreement.

“We’ve already gone beyond, I think, what was the original intention.”

She said it was important to consider the financial risks for the council in bringing forward the rest of the funds for the trust, especially when it could fail to secure a resource consent, or the consent could be challenged and overturned in the Environment Court.

The consent application received 328 submissions with 111 opposed. There are 88 people who wish to be heard at the application’s hearing.

There was consensus around the council chamber that approving the $150,000 to cover the costs of the hearing would enable the “appropriate” independent and democratic space for residents to have their say about the project.

“It’s a difficult decision,” Mackenzie said.

“Probably we don’t satisfy many people, but in actual fact the pathway forward does sit in the hands of the boat ramp trust.”

The current application from the trust would see a new boat ramp, parking area, and a building with space allocated for various marine and community groups.

Building a boat ramp would also free-up Grossi Point Reserve – a culturally significant location for iwi and a public reserve from where boats are currently launched.

Butler said it would be disappointing if the project wasn’t completed.

“It's something that the bulk of the Māpua community have wanted since the existing ramp was made unusable by the commercial development there.”

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