Changes are being proposed to the status of about 7ha of Oamaru Harbour land to better reflect its existing and future use.
The Waitaki District Council wants to change 3.77ha of land along the foreshore, at Friendly Bay, the Steampunk playground and on the harbour side of the Esplanade and Waterfront Rd, from Oamaru Harbour endowment freehold land to local purpose reserve.
From the Oamaru Rowing Club building to the McKeown depot, and vacant land at the corner of the Esplanade and Waterfront Rd, is excluded and retains its endowment land status.
The decision to change the land to local purpose reserve better reflected its existing use for recreation and public space, the council's property specialist, Graeme Pointon, said.
As Oamaru Harbour endowment land, it was required to provide a return to the council to maintain the harbour. However, it was not doing this, because of the way it was being used and developed.
Because of the requirements of the Local Government Act and Reserves Act, the council was required to ''exchange'' a similar area of land to replace the endowment land being lost.
The council intends to change the status of 3.34ha of land that was formerly the railways goods yard from Wansbeck St to Waterfront Rd, but excluding the railway track used by Oamaru Steam and Rail.
It will change from local purpose reserve to Oamaru Harbour endowment freehold.
Already, part of the land is being used for a commercial purpose - Scott's Brewery leases the former goods shed.
The change will contribute to the redevelopment and revitalisation of the harbour precinct under the Oamaru Harbour Development Strategy drawn up in 2011.
''It is also catching up with what has already happened there, such as the Steampunk Playground, which is on harbour endowment land but cannot produce a return,'' he said.
While the council is changing the status of both parcels of land, what can go there is still governed by the Waitaki district plan under the Resource Management Act.
The council has advertised its intention to change the land status and called for submissions, which close on November 11.
