Minister confirms veto of Whangamata marina

Conservation Minister Chris Carter has vetoed the construction of a $10 million marina in Whangamata.

Mr Carter said he did not agree with an Environment Court ruling backing the development as it would destroy a salt marsh and affect local Maori.

The decision confirms the likely outcome reported by the Herald last week.

Scrapping the proposal has angered the Whangamata Marina Society, which has fought a 14-year legal battle for resource consents to build the marina, costing it more than $1 million.

But confirmation of the minister's veto will please tangata whenua, some surfers and ecologists.

The decision could draw a close to a 12-year battle over the development.

The only avenue open to those who support the marina is to seek a judicial review of the decision.

Mr Carter said he sympathised with the society but in the end he had to perform his statutory duty to protect the coast under the sustainable management principles of the Resource Management Act.

"Having looked at the issues in this coastal development proposal, the way the Environment Court approached them, and the evidence, I am not satisfied that allowing use of the public's coastal marine area for this development would be appropriate," Mr Carter said.

It was recognised that the veto was going against a court decision, but the law required the conservation minister to make an overall judgment on coastal matters that was distinct from the court process, he said.

The society had applied for two permits to build a 205-berth marina and car park in the Whangamata Harbour.

One permit sought to use four hectares of the coastal marine zone to construct the marina, and dredge a marina basin and channel across the harbour.

The second sought to reclaim 1.4 hectares and cover a salt marsh to create a parking area.

Mr Carter said he had "serious concerns" about the proposal.

"Most notably the destruction of a salt marsh to provide a parking area for the marina, and the effects from the development on iwi," he said.

The court had said the evidence on the ecological value of the salt marsh was "strikingly at variance" but had found in favour of the applicant.

"I cannot agree with the court on this matter. In my view it is apparent that salt marsh is valuable and I am not satisfied it should be destroyed simply because money would be spent enhancing another salt marsh." Mr Carter said.

The chairman of the Whangamata Marina Society, Mick Kelly, said this week he was stunned the minister was looking to veto the proposal.

"The court findings were heavily weighted in our favour. We had 27 days of court hearing time, then at the 11th hour he goes and talks to disaffected parties for half a day, where he is bombarded with misinformation that has gone unchallenged," he said.

Besides those who valued the salt marsh for its ecological value, the marina was also opposed by surfers who argued that the project threatens the town's renowned surfing break and iwi say it could jeopardise traditional shellfish gathering.

- NZPA