Looming sales boost marine precinct

The industry had gone backwards since it lost the 600-tonne slipway to the second Harbour Bridge.

A multi-million dollar project to inject new life into the city's ailing marine refit industry is on the verge of overcoming major financial hurdles.

Strong buyer interest has been shown in four properties which the Tauranga City Council needs to sell in order to fund its half-share of the $10.4 million marine precinct at Sulphur Point.

Three of the sites were within the 3.5ha block of land on which the council hopes to resurrect an industry crippled by the closure of the 600-tonne slipway seven years ago.

Project manager Phil Wardale told councillors yesterday that 22 companies had registered their interest in buying the three lots. Twenty were from Tauranga and the others from Hamilton and Auckland.

And a "good outcome" had been achieved for the sale of the neighbouring fourth Mirrielees Rd property leased to Allied Concrete. He was unable to reveal the name of the new owner until the contract had gone unconditional.

Allied Concrete's Tauranga manager Craig Ward said the owner of Allied, the Invercargill-based WR Richardson Group, had put in a bid. However Allied would be staying regardless of who bought it because they had a perpetual lease, with the next review in 2025.

Stage one of the precinct was expected to pump more than $45 million into the region's economy and employ about 195 people.

The other $5 million needed to build the marine precinct's basic infrastructure was coming from the Bay of Plenty Regional Council which was partnering large projects that provided sustainable economic benefits.

The basic infrastructure consisted of the boat travel lift with a minimum capacity of 200 tonnes, construction of a sea wall and building the hardstand on which boats rest in cradles.

The industry had gone backwards since it lost the 600-tonne slipway to the second Harbour Bridge and the heaviest boats that could now be lifted out were 35 tonnes.

A boat refitter, who asked not to be named, said the marine precinct would offer a lot more certainty to the industry by offering a travel lift that could handle heavy commercial boats.

He believed the marine precinct would also attract refit business from outside the Bay. "This will allow the growth that we all know Tauranga needs."

Remaining Steps to Secure the Marine Precinct

*Refine project plan and identify milestones
*Update the financial model and project feasibility
*Align consents with the masterplan
*Decide on the size and cost of the boat travel lift
*Consultation to decide the strategic alignment of the project.