Port of Tauranga's Stella Passage project fast-tracked amid shipping demand

Port of Tauranga announced today that the Minister for Infrastructure has accepted its request to refer the Stella Passage development resource consent application to the fast-track consenting process. This new application runs in parallel with a previous one, currently on hold due to a High Court judicial review. The Government is attempting to rectify the legislative drafting error through the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill.

The Stella Passage development is significant regionally and nationally, involving the extension of the Sulphur Point container berth by 385 metres and the Mount Maunganui wharves by 315 metres. It also includes converting existing cargo storage land, associated dredging for a vessel turning circle, and minor land reclamation. The Environment Court has already deemed the project's short-term environmental impact minor and long-term negligible from a Western science perspective.

Port of Tauranga chief executive, Leonard Sampson, emphasized the urgency, stating the company is currently turning away shipping services, negatively impacting the New Zealand economy. While environmental impacts are considered minor, agreement has not been reached with opposing iwi and hapū parties regarding mitigation for cultural impacts.