2020 election: Shane Jones pledges $ 45 million for east coast port idea rejected by council

A government announcement to set aside $ 45 million for a barge facility in the Eastern Cape has been labeled “strange” and unwanted.

Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones said Saturday that the government had in principle approved an allocation of up to $ 45 million from the Crown Infrastructure Partners infrastructure fund for a shipping facility on the East Coast, with two suitable sites identified for the facility: Wharekahika / Hicks Bay and Te Araroa.

However, members of the local community and local politicians have scoffed at the idea.

Gisborne Deputy Mayor Josh Wharehinga was scathing about Jones’ announcement, and over the weekend he took to Facebook to label Jones “an idiot.”

“For the record, the Gisborne District Council space plan rejected this idea. Our community is talking. You are not listening – Knob behavior of the highest order,” he stated in a Facebook post.

It does not support hapu, so it does not support Runanganui

The idea was rejected for inclusion in the Gisborne District Council’s Tairawhiti 2050 strategy, with presentations highlighting environmental impacts, lack of consultation, and concerns about wahi tapu (sacred sites).

Speaking to The Gisborne Herald, Wharehinga said councilors had visited Wharekahika the day before the announcement and, without being asked, locals had told them they did not want a dock.

“It’s a weird announcement because no one at Wharekahika spoke in support of a dock or barge facility, or something like that.

“In fact, the day before they told us otherwise.

“It’s silly, such a silly advertisement.”

Wharehinga added that during the visit to the area it was also evident how low the river levels were.

“Even if the community supported it, which it is not, the practicality of breaking upstream and downstream is not practical.”

The ability of the roads to contain trucks of logs to take them to a dock would also create more problems for infrastructure in the area.

The announcement was greeted with caution by Te Runanganui or Ngati Porou.

In a statement, President Selwyn Parata said infrastructure development on the east coast is badly needed, but should not be pursued at any cost.

“We have known for a long time that the transport and economic development of the East Coast and Ngati Porou go hand in hand.

“However, previous proposals for new maritime transport facilities were not supported by the hapu, so they were not supported by Runanganui.

“We recognize the government’s intention to work with iwi and engage with the local hapu on this proposal,” Parata said.

“However, our hapu believes that they have already made their position on the matter clear.”

The $ 45 million allocated from the “shovel-ready” Covid-19 recovery fund would constitute the remainder of the $ 106 million allocation for the region, with $ 60.9 million already allocated to projects.

“The council is fully aware of the community’s position on this project and supports their wishes,” said Gisborne Mayor Rehette Stoltz.

“The organization submitted nine projects ready to be considered for funding for the Crown Infrastructure Project, but this was not one of them.”