A "rough passage" has been predicted for a project to reduce the flood threat facing properties at the Courtney Rd end of the Fraser Street industrial area.
Tauranga City Council storm recovery manager Angus Emslie was summing up yesterday some of the issues surrounding the planning application to build the Courtney drain and Merivale detention pond.
A 60-page environmental impact assessment by Environment Bay of Plenty and council highlighted the scheme's impact on wetlands because some endangered bird species had been found there.
Mr Emslie said one or two adjoining residents felt that the value of their homes would also be compromised by the pond and several were worried it would impact on fish and eel migration.
"We are expecting a rough passage in the hearing next week," he said.
The pond was planned to be built about 200 metres upstream of the branch with the Courtney stream. It was designed to hold back flood waters which had in the past inundated a pocket of industrial properties.
A former resident of the area, Cr Murray Guy, wondered why the council was having so much trouble when the developer of the Mega Mitre 10 building did not have the same problem with his detention pond.
Mr Emslie replied: "I don't know the answer to that one."
He could not comment on the cost of the project, saying it would depend on the outcome of the hearing and consent conditions.
Flood project objections grow
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