Posted: 25 September 2009
Draft Mangawhai Mooring Management Plan released
Mooring owners and local residents are being invited to have their say on a draft local authority mooring management plan tailor-made for the Mangawhai Harbour.
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.
Council Policy Analyst Justin Murfitt says 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 limitations with shore-based facilities like car parking, toilets and rubbish disposal.
Mr Murfitt says the NRC is organising a 7pm meeting at the Mangawhai Fishing Club on Wednesday 7 October to provide an overview of the draft plan as well as give interested parties a chance to ask questions and provide input.
He says the draft plan – which has already had input from the Kaipara District Council, Department of Conservation, iwi, local groups and other interested parties - attempts to address a raft of issues including:
• mooring numbers, layout and type
• identifying the type and level of facilities and services which are required
• identifying and reducing potential conflicts between mooring activities and other harbour uses/users
However, Mr Murfitt says the draft plan doesn’t identify new mooring areas or alter the boundaries of the two existing ones. It is available on the NRC’s website at www.nrc.govt.nz/mangawhai
Mr Murfitt says after the public meeting there will be a further two week public consultation period and the draft will then be revised as appropriate.