Marine precinct plans challenged

Western Work Boats' Sean Kelly wants certainty about the council-owned precinct's future.

A growing Tauranga marine contracting business could be forced to relocate to another port if changes are not made to plans for the Sulphur Point Marine Precinct.

Western Work Boats owner Sean Kelly warned city councillors last week about what could happen if he did not get certainty about their future in the council-owned precinct.

The council is spending $10.4 million to turn the area between the Harbour Bridge and Sanfords into a marine servicing area featuring New Zealand's largest boat hoist and travel lift.

Mr Kelly told last week's hearing of submissions on the council's 10-year plan that his waterfront-based business had unique requirements.

He was busy keeping options open in case the council was unable to accommodate his business in the marine precinct.

"We need certainty, otherwise we are going, and we will be getting really serious about that really soon."

Mr Kelly said he would get the chance to bid for a site along with the rest of New Zealand, but it had to be something they wanted, and there was nothing they wanted in the current plans.

Mayor Stuart Crosby said they were looking to divvy up the site for lease or purchase and the council had to go through a transparent process.

Councillor John Robson asked Mr Kelly whether he was certain that none of the information he had seen so far was suitable for Western Work Boats.

Mr Kelly said he was 100 per cent certain. He had told the council what his business needed in terms of the waterfront and berths, a plan had been pulled out and there was nothing in it for him.

"Options had been tossed around. Little or none of my ideas were incorporated, and that is of concern," he said.

Mr Crosby said it was an issue of exclusivity.

Mr Kelly responded that it was possibly that and he wanted clarification around these issues.

Mr Crosby said nothing had been decided. "We will get it sorted."

Mr Kelly's concerns about the precinct and his suggestions about the downtown waterfront will be considered by the council early next month.

Mr Kelly would like to see a sandy beach for children as part of the waterfront redevelopment, and boats moored nearby. "Believe it or not, people want to see boats."

He said the railway line was in the way. "It's a barrier down the guts of it really."