The 30-year-plan for Oamaru Harbour was not ready for public consumption when it was tabled in a draft form at a Waitaki District Council harbour area committee meeting on Tuesday, Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher says.
After an angst-filled public forum in front of a full public gallery, Mr Kircher blamed the council's communication for the public outcry and called for another workshop on the Oamaru Harbour master plan "as soon as possible", once again delaying the project that began with a first round of public engagement in November.
"They are artists' impressions and they show things that weren't intended," Mr Kircher said.
"We chose to do this bit in public and the problem is it wasn't ready - and we were going to try to refine it. But what happened was we got a reaction from people who said it wasn't ready."
Among the 10 people who presented their concerns to the committee Darryl Bond, of Oamaru, said the three options presented were "a developer's short-term tactical wishlist for what they'd like to build" rather than a reflection of community feedback.
The engagement document for a draft master plan included in the agenda was "not a guiding visionary document" as he had expected.
He questioned whether the submissions from the earlier public engagement had been wilfully ignored, and he said the plan, as presented, was akin to "a book report I did when I was 12, and I know damn well I didn't read the book".
Plans included for the public to consider included a lift at the old quarry at Cape Wanbrow, the establishment of a "harbour village", commercialising Oamaru Harbour's red sheds, a swim platform at Friendly Bay, a wildlife centre, an art and heritage trail, new roads, reopening Graves Track, and developing Forrester Heights.
Ray Henderson, of Oamaru, said since the process began, the council had taken "two steps forward, and three steps back".
After starting with controversial plans for a zipline or floating hotel, the community now faced "all these radical things being suggested again".
"We do want it developed, but not at a fast pace," he said.
The Oamaru Harbour Space Master Plan Establishment Report approved in February included confirming a shortlist of options at the council's April 30 meeting, and endorsement of a draft master plan on June 25.
Mr Kircher said approving a master plan by September 10, as indicated in the latest report, was now unlikely.
"These options are about informing the final master plan. These options are not the master plan. It's an important distinction. I apologised to people. We did not communicate that well."
Mr Kircher said the as-yet unscheduled follow-up workshop would be open to the public.
