Kōpū’s $1.5 million Marine Servicing and Business Precinct was officially opened to much fanfare on June 21, with visiting dignitaries Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters; Minister of Regional Development, Oceans and Fisheries Shane Jones; and Minister of Customs Casey Costello, invited along for the event.
The 80-metre commercial wharf and floating pontoon will enable in-water marine servicing and vessel loading. It includes an upgraded commercial slipway and unsealed haul-out area, and a public boat ramp with trailer parking for 34 boats alongside the main structure.
Up to 100 new jobs are expected to be created as a result of the precinct’s opening, in aquaculture, light engineering and secondary services.
Friday’s ribbon-cutting was the culmination of seven years’ work to develop the facility. Mr Peters said the new infrastructure was expected to double the value of the region’s aquaculture exports over the next 20 years to $180 million.
“[The precinct] will deliver enhanced maritime productivity for Thames Coromandel by improving access to the Hauraki Gulf. Currently 11 per cent of agriculture industry jobs in New Zealand are based in Thames Coromandel,” he said.
“This used to be a world-leading province once, not just in New Zealand, but world-leading; and it’s time you got your mojo back.”
Mr Jones said the Government was committed to growing the aquaculture sector in New Zealand’s provinces.
“[The Government] made a commitment in 2018 and 19: let’s upgrade the maritime infrastructure around the coastline of New Zealand so that those of us who hail from these areas are able to celebrate that birthright of ours. The connection between people, the coast; communities, the coast – and enable the coast to play a larger role in driving forward our economy,” he said.
The ministers also announced the Government’s new $1.2 billion regional infrastructure fund at the opening, which would start from July 1. The fund will be for “projects that build new infrastructure and enhance existing infrastructure for the benefit of regional businesses, organisations and communities,” Mr Peters said.
A $20 million project to upgrade Te Ariki Tahi Sugarloaf Wharf in Waipapa Bay is also underway as part of the push to develop aquaculture infrastructure in the region.
Kōpū Marine Precinct’s opening ceremony was attended by Thames-Coromandel and Hauraki mayors Len Salt and Toby Adams, Waikato Regional Council chair Pamela Storey, and representatives of the Thames-Coromandel District Council, Thames Community Board, Thames Business Association, and Ngāti Maru.
The facility opened to the public on June 22.
