Careys Bay residents say noise will be worse

Their lack of success in getting Port Otago to deal with noise complaints has led Careys Bay residents to believe the Next Generation Project will only make things worse, especially the proposed multipurpose wharf extension.

The extension of the wharf along Boiler Point was of greatest concern, as residents believed it would lead to excessive noise, loss of visual amenity and night-time light spill, "which, based on our past experience with Port Otago, would not be adequately avoided or mitigated", Careys Bay Association spokeswoman Cheryl Adams said.

"Port Otago have shown little willingness to either investigate our concerns regarding anticipated adverse effects or to implement any modifications to Project Next Generation to avoid, minimise or mitigate those effects," she said at the 10th day of Port Otago's resource consent hearing.

About 20 of the submissions involve concerns about the noise impact on Careys Bay.

Ms Adams said existing port noise was considered "unreasonable" and it was expected it would increase with project next generation.

The Dunedin City Council district plan, which exempts the port from enforceable noise limits allowed Port Otago to increase noise unhindered, she said.

They believed the port should be required to install technologies and implement measures to ensure noise was minimised at source.

Fishermen Neil McDonald and Teone Taiaroa also criticised Port Otago for its lack of consultation with commercial fishermen who fished the disposal site (AO).

Mr McDonald said to think the disposal would only have a minor effect was wishful thinking by people "lacking any real knowledge of the geographics of the area".

He believed the site would become unworkable and challenged the evidence given that the impact on commercial fishermen would be minor.

"If the modelling and dumping statistics are even partially wrong, this area will be affected for an unknown time."

If the on-flow of silts affected his already vulnerable business it would be impacted to a point that "we would no longer have a sustainable operation", Mr McDonald said.

Sarah Valk, on behalf of Mr Taiaroa, said fishermen would have to travel further to fish, at personal, time and financial cost.

Both called for financial mitigation if the disposal impacted on their business.

 

 

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