Community supports Russell Wharf kiosk development

The community has voted in favour of redeveloping the existing kiosk on Russell Wharf. Photo / Peter de Graaf

The community has voted in favour of redevelopment of the kiosk on Russell Wharf, with toilets and a game fish weigh station.

Far North Holdings, the commercial arm of the Far North District Council, ran a consultation process on the wharf with the Russell community. A total of 139 submissions were received.

The majority, 61 per cent, voted in favour of redeveloping the existing, non-compliant kiosk on Russell Wharf.

Just over half of those who supported redevelopment, 54 per cent, opted for the design that is currently consented.

Toilets were supported by 69 per cent of those who submitted an opinion on whether the building should have public toilets instead of a fourth public bench.

A wharf extension with a game fish weigh station was supported by 86 per cent of those who offered a view on the matter, saying the wharf development plans should be re-submitted for consent with the extended area.

Far North Holdings chief executive Andy Nock said work on the kiosk would start only after Easter 2019, once repair and renovation work on the main wharf structure had been completed and after the peak 2018/2019 summer season tourist traffic.

"The community told us in no uncertain terms that the wharf should be the priority and we agree completely," Nock said.

The development window allows further informal engagement with all members of the community, particularly tangata whenua, on aspects of the building design.

Community concern over the proposed pump-out facility for recreational boats has prompted Far North Holdings to "triple-check" the viability of this facility with council staff and engineers, to ensure capacity is not an issue, Nock said.

"Of all the issues and objections we discussed with the Russell community, by far the greatest concern was around this aspect of design," he said.

"I want to review the work that has taken place and re-validate that the pump-out facility will operate within the constraints of the current [wastewater] system, to ensure that FNHL and council staff have all got their facts straight before we go anywhere near this work."