Another Tauranga City Council project under review

An independent consultant is reviewing Tauranga City Council's handling of the $11.4 million Marine Precinct following years of concern from independent fishing captains. 
Fishing fleet owner Dan Harvey says working ships are being pushed out of Tauranga by the Marine Precinct which favours  luxury yachts and added no berthage space. 
Larger independent fishing vessels share just five metres of truck-to-boat space which causes delays if two ships want to use the space at the same time. 

"When you consider a backwater like Whangarei has 490 metres of space, Napier has 400, Gisborne has 286, and Whakatane has 80 it is ridiculous Tauranga only has 5 metres of truck-to-boat space," Harvey said.
Tauranga City Council confirmed consultant Max Pedersen, who has previously identified poor management issues within Council, has been commissioned to review the Marine Precinct.

​"The scope of the review is to look at any issues or opportunities for improvement," communications manager Aimee Driscoll said. 
Pedersen previously reviewed four council projects which were plagued with communication and consultation issues. 
The report concluded a poor culture was present in council with an emphasis on staff to complete tasks, rather than facilitating the best outcome for the community.

Pedersen's report followed on from a  scathing MBIE report into the council's building inspection team over the handling of the Bella Vista Homes saga. 
Erika Harvey has campaigned against the Marine Precinct for three years saying what was delivered was not what was promised. 
"All we want is what was promised to us originally," she said. 
"Instead things have not been built and the water's edge is being sold. That should stay in public ownership." 
Council documents show companies have purchased lots in the precinct that run up to the water's edge with a service lane for trucks located further inland. 
Other fishing captains asked for comment said the most important thing lacking from the Marine Precinct was berthage for vessels to allow catch to be offloaded but also repairs to be conducted without lifting a vessel out of the water completely. 
A publish date for the review is not yet known. 

Original Article: 
​https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/112858937/another-tauranga-city-council-project-under-review