THE Environment Court has ordered the granting of resource consent for the development of a new commercial marina in Ōpōtiki after an agreement was reached in the mediation process.

Ōpōtiki Marina and Industrial Park (OMAI) was initially granted resource consent from Bay of Plenty Regional Council in June last year to build a marina basin and an industrial precinct for marine activities on about 18 hectares of land at the western side of Ōpōtiki Harbour.

Whakatōhea hapū Ngati Ira, which has customary rights over the area, contested the decision in the Environment Court, citing several grounds for appeal.

Grounds included inadequate consultation with the hapū, the potential for adverse effects on the mauri of the natural environment and areas of cultural significance, a lack of recognition on the council’s part of the hapū’s customary marine title and protected customary rights, inadequate conditions designed to address adverse effects, and inconsistencies with the Resource Management Act.

An agreement was reached last month, expanding, defining and refining the role of a tangata whenua liaison group, which will be known as Ngā Hapū o te Whakatōhea Engagement Group.

A change has been made to three key resource consents’ certification conditions to clarify that the engagement group’s feedback must be detailed in any management plans submitted to the council by OMAI.

Where any recommendations have not been adopted, the reasons why it is not practicable to do so must be detailed.

OMAI also agreed to provide an annual grant of $10,000 a year to the Ngā Hapū o te Whakatōhea Engagement Group for capacity building.