Key BOP projects are now on a fast(er) track to completion, as RICHARD RENNIE explains.
Business leaders and councillors are cautiously optimistic about local projects making the government’s much celebrated Fast Track Approvals (FTA) Bill list. The bill aims to speed up regional housing and infrastructure developments.
Of the 149 projects making the cut, the Bay scored a dozen approvals seeing the region ranked firmly in the middle on a population per project basis – 29,500 people per project.
The local projects focus on aspects businesses have long called for, including roading, port infrastructure and housing in the Western Bay of Plenty Council area.
Standout projects include a 340 hectare housing and industrial development, set to feature up to 3000 new homes near Bell Road, Pāpāmoa, as well as a 132ha development at Tauriko.
Among the roading projects on the list is the four lane, second stage of Takitimu North Link (TNL) from Te Puna to Omokoroa and the State Highway 29 (SH29) to Tauriko network connections project.
Port of Tauranga (POT) has also claimed a spot. Although part of its extension project remains mired in the Environment Court, POT has gained a listing for the entire project while the consent process continues to play out.
Topping the track list…
Priority One CEO, Nigel Tutt, told Bay of Plenty Business News (BOPBN) there were no surprises on the list with housing and core infrastructure projects needed and expected.
“Projects such as the TNL stage two are, however, still dependent upon funding, but there is definitely a need there for the region’s wellbeing.”
The SH29 project through Tauriko was also well overdue given the significant growth already happening there, Tutt said.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council chair, Doug Leeder, welcomed the housing projects, including the Bell Road plans, but cautioned that such projects were yet to be granted full approval.
“The Bell Road [project] is a particularly low-lying and flood prone area. Also, it needs to fit with the region’s Smartgrowth plan, and it is not in the planning forecasts for Smartgrowth development, so that will have to be accounted for.”
Bell Road is being developed by Tauranga’s Bluehaven Group, the company behind the Golden Sands subdivision in Pāpāmoa.
A New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) spokesperson emphasised that, while it does fast track projects, the FTA relates to consent but not to funding.
“The Government Policy Statement on land transport 2024 introduces a new expectation for NZTA to consider tolling to support the construction and maintenance of all new roads, including the Roads of National Significance,” the spokesperson explained.
Additionally, NZTA confirmed work to replace Omanawa Bridge was progressing with the usual resource management pathway expected. The bridge replacement represents the first phase of the Tauriko West SH29 corridor project, which is set to begin in 2025.
The TNL second stage project already has route protection in place with more information available during the coming months.
Failing to include these two major roading projects in the FTA would have been a major oversight given that they are roads of national significance, Western Bay of Plenty’s mayor, James Denyer, said.
“FTA does not necessarily mean all projects are approved, but it does bring the processes together quicker. They are projects clearly signalled by the government [to be] priorities.”
The Port of Tauranga (POT) advised BOPBN that the Environment Court has approved part of its expansion project, a 285 metre berth at
Sulphur Point. Although POT submitted the entire project for fast-track listing, a decision about whether or not (and which) parts of its consents to push through will not be made until final legislation and an approvals timeframe is known.
In early October, the port’s CEO, Leonard Sampson, expressed frustration about POT being forced to turn away ships due to red tape delays.
In February, its executives warned capacity was running out, and the port now lacks the ability to accept new services from Europe or the USA.
Kawerau also gained a boost with stage one of Foresta’s pine chemicals and wood pellet plant making the FTA list. This project aims to process stumps and forest slash from PF Olsen forests in the region, turning them into high value chemicals and pellets for wood fuel-burning plants.
A Foresta spokesperson said fast-track approval sees the project recognised as one of regional and national significance.
“Our operational plan for the first manufacturing facility at Kawarau will provide 73 jobs across various roles with job creation expected to grow as the project scales. The number of direct and indirect employment opportunities will increase in tandem with our planned development phases,” the spokesperson advised.
“Our scalable manufacturing process allows for the establishment of additional facilities close to forests across New Zealand. With a total of 10 factories currently planned, we could effectively eliminate the need for coal to be burned domestically and have surplus production available for export to Asia.”
In addition, Manawa Energy made the list with two projects requiring re-consenting to continue – the Kaimai Hydro-Electric scheme and, south of Murapara, the Wheao Hydro-Electric scheme. The company’s CEO, Clayton Delmarter, said these complex schemes were due to lapse in 2026, and Manawa Energy benefits from a ‘one stop shop’ approach signalled by the fast-track bill.
