Harbour dredging approved
Harbour dredging approved
Despite extensive opposition to Port Otago's Next Generation Project, the company has been granted resource consent to dredge Otago Harbour and dispose of the soil at sea.
Port Otago
Work bound
Work bound
Port Otago's dredge New Era leaves the upper harbour in tranquil conditions yesterday morning, headed for Port Chalmers.
Ship awaiting repairs after incident
Ship awaiting repairs after incident
Maritime New Zealand investigators will determine what went wrong when a container ship hit the Beach St Wharf at Port Chalmers during a standard berthing procedure at Port Otago on Thursday.
Maersk to drop weekly service to Australia
Maersk to drop weekly service to Australia
Shipping giant Maersk, Port Otago's largest customer, is dropping its weekly direct Southern Star transtasman service to Australia, the country's largest trading partner.
Grant Port Otago consents: ORC
Grant Port Otago consents: ORC
The Otago Regional Council has upheld its recommendation that Port Otago's dredging and disposal consents be granted but it has suggested amendments and added conditions to ensure its effects are more tightly controlled, Otago Regional Council senior resource officer Suzanne Watt says.
Fishermen oppose dumping of spoil
Fishermen oppose dumping of spoil
Existing commercial fishing operations off the Otago coast could become unviable should Port Otago's plan to dredge the harbour and dump spoil offshore proceed.
Port Otago raises $50,000 for Lyttelton
Port Otago raises $50,000 for Lyttelton
Port Otago and its staff have raised $50,000 for Lyttelton's community in the wake of earthquakes which devastated many parts of the harbour township.
Salt marsh concerns
Salt marsh concerns
The Otago Conservation Board may understand why Port Otago wants to dredge the Otago Harbour, but it is concerned about the effect of such activity on the Aramoana salt marsh.
Doc drops opposition to dredging harbour
Doc drops opposition to dredging harbour
In a turnaround, the Director-general of Conservation has dropped his opposition to Port Otago's Project Next Generation, saying his concerns have been resolved.
Careys Bay residents say noise will be worse
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.
Call for $15m-$20m port dredge-soil bond
Call for $15m-$20m port dredge-soil bond
Port Otago should be made to pay a "huge bond" of $15 million to $20 million to runanga to monitor the impact of the disposal of soil 10km away from the East Otago taiapure (coastal patch) to suit "the people, not the applicant", Kati Huriapa Runanga ki Puketeraki upoko David Ellison says.
Call for more research into Port Otago project
Call for more research into Port Otago project
It may have gained support from a tourism operator and a neutral response from the Dunedin City Council, but Port Otago's Project Next Generation has others calling for more research.
Runanga stress site's importance
Runanga stress site's importance
It is completely "unthinkable" customary food gathering and kai moana (food from the sea) assets of Otago's coast be put in jeopardy, diminished or destroyed as a result of Port Otago's proposed dredging and disposal project, Kati Huirapa Runanga ki Puketeraki chairman Matapura Ellison says.
Ecological data lacking, critics tell hearing
Ecological data lacking, critics tell hearing
A lack of good, solid information on the effects of Port Otago's proposed channel widening or deepening is concerning those who live and fish in, and care for, the area's environment.
Seeing for themselves
Seeing for themselves
The independent panel hearing the Port Otago Project Next Generation resource consent applications were shown around the port yesterday.
Adverse ecological effect 'unavoidable'
Adverse ecological effect 'unavoidable'
An adverse effect on marine ecology from the disposal of large volumes of spoil could not be avoided by Port Otago's proposed channel deepening and widening project, aquatic ecologist Dr Mark James says.
Loss of fisheries habitat 'minor'
Loss of fisheries habitat 'minor'
The loss of fisheries habitat, cockle habitat in particular, within Otago Harbour would be minor as a result of Port Otago's proposed Project Next Generation, consultant fisheries scientist Richard Boyd says.
Harbour Dredging sand disposal disquiet allayed
Harbour Dredging sand disposal disquiet allayed
Modelling has shown virtually no sediment from the disposal of sand from the proposed dredging of the Otago Harbour channel will be deposited in Blueskin Bay or along the coast either side of Karitane Point, coastal scientist and environmental engineer Dr Robert Bell says.
Fonterra plea for port channel consent
Fonterra plea for port channel consent
Granting consent for Port Otago to deepen and widen its channel will be in the best interests of New Zealand's export sector, Fonterra trade and operations general manager strategy Nigel Jones says.
Economy v environment issue again
Economy v environment issue again
Port Otago's long-term "next generation" channel-deepening proposal may be its largest project during the past 145 years, but it has attracted widespread criticism, from recreationalists and environmentalists through to scientists.