Ngāi Tahu and Surfbreak appeal Lyttelton Port dredging plan

Thursday, 3 August 2017

Lyttelton Port of Christchurch says it is unlikely it will have a cruise ship berth available in 2019 because of appeals against resource consents granted to dredge the harbour.

Ngāi Tahu has lodged an appeal against the consents granted in July on environmental and cultural concerns.

Surfbreak Protection Society is also appealing the decision.

The port company had hoped to start dredging in March but the appeal to the Environment Court would delay it, chief executive Peter Davie said.

Dredging was required around the new wharf to allow ships to dock.

**READ MORE:

* Lyttelton Harbour dredge project approved, despite iwi objection

* Stand-off between Ngai Tahu and Lyttelton Port over dredging plans  

* Lyttelton Port plans to undertake NZ's biggest dredging project** 

'Consent for the dredging of the cruise berth was included in the resource consent application for channel deepening,' he said.

'Due to time delays associated with the Ngāi Tahu and Surfbreak Protection Society appeal, it is looking unlikely we will have the cruise ship berth ready to accommodate the more than 70 vessels that have indicated they wanted to come to Canterbury in 2019.'

He said it was disappointing Ngāi Tahu and Surfbreak Protection Society were appealing, 'particularly as the hearing panel decided by a considerable margin the consent be granted'.

Te Rūnanga o Koukourārata, Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke (Rāpaki), Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and Ngāi Tahu Seafood confirmed they were appealing.

'The appeal does not oppose the dredging activities but instead seeks to ensure that the environment and Ngāi Tahu values are protected throughout the dredging operationss,' a Ngāi Tahu spokeswoman said.

'We have been working hard throughout the process to ensure the coast line and ecosystem of Te Pataka o Rakaihautū/Banks Peninsula, Whakaraupō/Lyttelton harbour and Koukourārata/Port Levy are protected.

'We will not be making any further comment at this time to ensure we do not affect legal proceeding,'

Ngāi Tahu argued during the hearing that the port company should be required to make a net improvement to the environment and mahinga kai in some form, and should post a $1 million bond.

Ngāi Tahu was especially concerned about the effects of sediment in the water on mahinga kai, and possibly on mussel farming.

Surfbreak Protection Society had concerns about sediment and the potential effect on wave action from disposal mounds on the sea bed.

Davie said the resource consent hearing commissioners did a good job of distilling the technical information presented at the hearing 'and we have confidence in the robust decision that they issued'.

'We made it very clear in our resource consent application that while Lyttelton Port is committed to future-proofing the port to enable continued economic growth of Canterbury, we will not do this at the expense of our environmental responsibilities.

'This was recognised by the hearing panel who commented that our proposed environmental safeguards were impressive.'

'Unfortunately, this appeal will also delay the construction of the new cruise ship berth, as obtaining the channel deepening dredging consent is a critical component of its construction,' Davie said.

ChristchurchNZ cruise industry spokeswoman Caroline Blanchfield said she was 'gutted' at the news of possible delays to the new Lyttelton berth.

'From the city's perspective, it is very disappointing that this has happened.

'I was about to start work at Lyttelton getting people ready for cruise tourism opportunities so we have lots of shore activities ready to go.

'I still need to do that, but it's a set back for the recovery of our tourism industry,' she said.

* An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Ngāi Tahu's appeal was supported by the Surbreak Protection Society.