Port Otago's Project Next Generation resource consents should
be granted, subject to conditions, the Otago Regional
Council's staff report says.
An independent panel will on April 4 start hearing Port
Otago's applications to dredge Otago Harbour, deepening and
widening the existing lower harbour channel, swinging area
and Port Chalmers berths to provide access for larger
container vessels in the future.
It has also applied to extend the existing multipurpose wharf
and build a public-use fishing jetty at the end of Boiler
Point.
Council director of resource manager Dr Selva Selvarajah, in
the report, recommended the panel grant the application
subject to conditions.
It was expected adverse effects on the environment would be
minor and could be adequately addressed through the
recommended consent conditions and the proposed activity was
consistent with the requirements of the Resource Management
Act and council policies, he said.
Reports prepared for the application concluded the effects of
the activity, based on the modelling information, would be
"short term and in the long term no more than minor".
A proposed consent condition was that an environmental
management plan be developed outlining the methods and
mitigation to control the dredging programme. Another was
that major dredging adjacent to Taiaroa Head not be be
carried out during the summer holiday period when the mole
area was popular with divers.
A flora and fauna monitoring programme was suggested to
ensure there were no long-term effects from turbidity on
sensitive species. To ensure effects were no more than minor
on the harbour's cockles, consent conditions have been
recommended requiring dredging to cease if turbidity became
detrimental to shellfish, Dr Selvarajah said.
Recreational fishing was only likely to be affected in areas
where the dredger operated or shortly after it operated.
To avoid the possibility of dredge material mounding at the
disposal site and affecting currents, conditions were
recommended stating a maximum depth of material to be
deposited and that it be monitored, he said.
Port Otago proposed mitigation and monitoring along with an
environmental management plan would ensure the effects of the
dredging would be no more than minor in the long term, he
said.
- rebecca.fox@odt.co.nz
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