Ban accepted, but Ruapehu coach not happy

A LEGAL battle is a possibility when the lease to operate Wanganui's port comes up for renewal next year.
Port of Wanganui Ltd, the company that revealed plans for a deepwater port at Castlecliff four years ago, is back in the frame and will be going all out to secure the lease of the port that is to be renewed in May 2008.
Tuffy Churton is still project manager for Port of Wanganui Ltd, and says he is working with some as yet unnamed out-of-towners to get involved in the company.
Colin Cashmore's company, River City Port Ltd, holds the current five-year lease but Mr Churton said his company was prepared to go to court to get an injunction to stop council renewing the lease to Mr Cashmore's company.
He said River City Port Ltd had done "next to nothing" at the port in the last three years.
"I've spoken to Colin Cashmore about relinquishing the lease but he has no interest to do that at this stage," Mr Churton said.
"We have to work through this more carefully but at this stage it's an option that's unfolding. It's probably the only process that's available to us" he told the Chronicle.
"Effectively an injunction would cut off River City Port's access to the lease and cut off their access to endowment land funds."
He said his company also had questions about the council's "negligent management" of the port since it acquired control in 1988.
"To restore the port back to what it was when the harbour board had control would cost, we reckon, at least $20 million.
"But essentially we believe our port will never get developed if the council continues down the road it's on right now."
Mr Churton said the first priority for his company was to attract interest and financial backing to take over the lease. He said at least $1 million would be needed to bankroll the company's legal assault on the lease.
He acknowledged that he did not have the financial resources to do it on his own and that was why he was scouting for outside help.
"I know I'll have to relinquish a fair amount of control to let that happen but it will most likely be a fresh team of people putting the money in."