WHAKATANE SAID TO BE BEST SITE FOR HARBOUR

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 16, 6 November 1950, Page 5

WHAKATANE SAID TO BE BEST SITE FOR HARBOUR

Contending that Whakatane I was the best site for a Bay of * Plenty port, the secretary, Mr C. G. Lucas, made the following submissions for the Whakatane Harbour Board before the Port Inquiry Committee at Rotorua oh Friday. (1) There is need for further port development in the Bay of Plenty in the immediate future to handle the produce of the State and other exotic plantations in the Rangitaiki River Basin. (2) The port development should also be made capable of exporting butter and other agricultural products of the Bay of Plenty district, and of importing the needs of the district which may include -phosphates for the manufacture of fertilisers.

(3) The best site for such a port, taking into account the probable future development of the Bay of Plenty district, is Whakatane. (4) Such development should be undertaken so as to provide adequate facilities for the handling of the produce of the State and other exotic plantations as soon as the State commences to produce from its Murupara project. (5) The State should provide the funds for such port development as a necessary incident to its Murupara project. (6) The Whakatane Harbour Board is prepared to hand over all its assets arid liabilities to the State if the State is prepared to take over the responsibility for the port development. (7) If the State does not wish to accept (5) and (6) above, the Whakatane Harbour Board will undertake the work provided that the State will guarantee a reasonable tonnage based on estimates from its Murupara project, at an agreed wharfage rate for a period of 36 years which is the term for which the Board considers a loan could be raised. The Board will be responsible for the maintenance of the port. (8) No further rating area is asked for by the Board in addition to its present rating area if the Board undertakes the work, and the present rate on the harbour district would be discontinued. (9) That the works be in accord with the plan submitted by the Board at a cost in the vicinity of £2,000,000 in accordance with the estimates produced on behalf of the Board.