November 16, 2021
Te Araroa barging plan ready to move ahead
Promoters of a barging facility near East Cape will seek funding for further environmental and economic studies to support an application for resources consent after a public meeting endorsed the work done so far.
Te Araroa Barging Facility Working Group secretary Tiwana Tibble says Sunday’s hui was the first opportunity people in there are had to publicly discuss a planner’s report showing a pathway to consent.
There were also economic and social reports that the facility could generate 100 direct jobs and up to 490 indirect jobs.
He says each barge can carry the equivalent of 40 log trucks, meaning safer roads and less carbon emitted.
While there were vocal opponents at the hui, when they forced a ballot they were outvoted more than two to one.
“Fair enough, they’ve got good questions about environmental impact and all that so assuming the government goes ahead with the phase 2 funding, which is to a resource consent and get all the extra full report environmental, we are into phase 2 and a lot more consultation, but we think there is a pathway to get there,” Mr Tibble says.