March 01, 2020
Opotiki harbour upgrade boosts Whakatohea settlement value
The Te Whakatōhea Pre Settlement Claims Trust says the Government’s $79 million investment in developing Ōpōtiki harbour is a game-changer for Te Whakatōhea and the region.
Chair Graeme Riesterer says community will benefit by the creation of hundreds of new jobs and higher wages.
It means many Te Whakatōhea whānau may be able to come home to paid employment, and rangatahi will have opportunities to stay in the town without missing out on career or development prospects.
Te Whakatōhea has invested heavily in aquaculture, building an experiemental mussel farm in the sea off the eastern Bay of Plenty township.
Economist Ian Dickson says a safe harbour is essential for further development of offshore marine farming.
He estimates the harbour will lift the value of the 5000 ha of water space reserved in the Te Whakatōhea Settlement agreement by $50 to $80 million.
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