The decision to block a $7 million marine precinct at Sulphur Point amounted to a missed opportunity in a challenging economic environment.
Tauranga City Council this week voted against giving agreement in principle to buy a 300-tonne travel lift and establishing a boat maintenance yard on land next to the Harbour Bridge.
However, last night Mayor Stuart Crosby confirmed the issue would be revisited.
"It is such an important issue that we will bring back another paper in April."
This is a welcome development in what could prove to be a boon for a vital local industry.
Key features of the project included multi-use wharf facilities, a new sea wall and berthage, sand blasting facilities, workshop space and public access to parts of the site.
It was disappointing to see the Bay's civic leaders shy away from a bold move to stimulate the local economy.
While there is an obvious need to be judicious with civic funds, and this newspaper would certainly criticise a lackadaisical approach to funding any project, the $7 million marine precinct is surely worthy of a business case.
The Port of Tauranga is already New Zealand's premier export shipping gateway.
The prospect of a marine precinct could breathe fresh stimulation into the local economy at a time when the kiwifruit industry is fighting the devastating PsaV bacteria and the ghastly wreck of the Rena remains perched on Astrolabe Reef.
Some councillors baulked at the sale of $3 million of council-owned property to help fund the project, while others said they didn't believe money previously earmarked for debt reduction should pay for a project which would not reap certain economic reward.
These are valid concerns, but the preparation of a business case would take a lot of the guess work out of an eventual decision and lay the facts bare.
This is no time for a limp approach and no time to be crippled by caution.
The council got it wrong this week and should take a much closer look at this project.
