Editorial: Marine success story

Whangarei Port has turned boats away because "there was no room at the inn."

I am one of the many people who have growled "Whangarei is no longer a service town" in response to flat earth society proclamations about the dangers of change to our daily existence. But it dawned on me I was wrong.

Whangarei is no longer solely a service town for Northland, but it has a massive marine industry service role that has chugged along for decades and is now growing healthily.

That growth is linked to excellent service and products being offered, unique services being offered, and word spreading within the marine and boating community of the quality of work on offer.

Such is demand that yachts and boats were turned away from Whangarei this summer, because there was no room at the inn.

The Whangarei Marina Management Trust now hopes to develop additional berths at a prime location downstream from the Te Matau O Pohe bridge, close to Limeburners Creek on the east bank. It is space near two existing boatsheds and some large storage sheds.

A proposed $1.5 million development would provide at least 50 new berths in the city and grow to accommodate 200 vessels.

There is a place in a town's make-up for blue-sky thinking, creativity and calculated risk. As long as there is a solid bed of sound, bordering on conservative, local government spending and investment, and local industry that achieves incremental, long-term growth through technology advances, quality work and excellent reputation.

Whangarei's marine industry, in other words.