More time to have say on Mangawhai mooring plan

Calls by locals for more time to have a say on a draft local authority mooring management plan for Mangawhai Harbour has seen a deadline for public comment extended by more than a month to December.

The draft Northland Regional Council (NRC) plan is designed to better address a number of issues confronting the heavily-used Mangawhai Harbour including mooring numbers, type and location and potentially better use of available water space.

Council Policy Analyst Justin Murfitt says about 30 people had attended a recent (subs: Weds, Oct 07) Regional Council-organised meeting at the Mangawhai Fishing Club to discuss the draft plan.

Although it has just 53 moorings in two defined areas, Mangawhai shares problems common to other popular – and larger - Northland harbours. These include a lack of new mooring space and the limitations of shore-based facilities like car parking, toilets and rubbish disposal.

Mr Murfitt says the Regional Council was pleased with both the number of people who had turned out to the recent meeting and the quality of feedback they had provided on mooring activity and other issues within Mangawhai Harbour.

This included:

support for a mooring rental system
a need for more efficient use of moorings (many remaining vacant for extended periods)
options and preferences for mooring systems
competing/conflicting uses and activities
a desire for greater policing of safe boating rules.

A number of navigation safety issues had also been raised and these have been referred to the Council’s Regional Harbourmaster for his attention.

Mr Murfitt says the Regional Council had initially suggested a 23 October deadline for public comment on the draft plan, which has already had input from the Kaipara District Council, Department of Conservation, iwi, local groups and other interested parties.

However, given the complexity of the issues - and a strong call by the local community for more time to comment - the submission period had now been extended by more than a month to Tuesday 1 December.

Mr Murfitt says another meeting will be held in Mangawhai early in the New Year to outline the feedback received.

Northland Regional Council Chairman Mark Farnsworth, himself a Mangawahi resident, chaired the recent public meeting and urged others with an interest in the community to make time to have their say on the Council’s plans.

"The development of this mooring management plan represents a real opportunity for the Mangawhai community to play a role in the management of its harbour."

Mr Farnsworth says anyone with an interest in how moorings in Mangawhai Harbour should be managed can view the draft plan via the Council’s website at: www.nrc.govt.nz/mangawhai

Similarly, queries on the draft plan can be directed to Justin Murfitt on (0800) 002 004 or email justinm@nrc.govt.nz