Paku Bay Preservation Soc. Marina Court Decision

The Environment Court has turned down the marina appeal!!

It looks at this stage as though it's a total NO but the document is 100 pages long and needs to be studied by our lawyers.
Below is the last page summary of the decision.
Press release
Full Environment Court decision: 108pp (word doc, 367kb)

Thank you everyone for your amazing support over 3 years. It's time for a party.

Chairman Secretary Treasurer
Bruce Gilberd 07 864 8727 Diane Crosbie 09 520 1404 Joyce Birdsall 07 864 7223

Court Decision - final page

Press Release
5 July 2005
Tairua benefits greatly from this Environment Court decision to refuse consents for a large marina to be built, covering 44% of Paku Bay, Tairua.
We are delighted. We hope the decision will encourage other local communities in New Zealand under inappropriate development pressure.
This decision confirms the stance of opposition taken throughout the Council and Court hearings by Environment Waikato (the Regional Council), the Thames Coromandel District Council, the Department of Conservation, Iwi, Tangata Whenua, the Tairua Environment Society and the Paku Bay Preservation Society. The decision has also made the huge costs these bodies and ratepayers have incurred worthwhile. There is an outstanding issue regarding the recovering of costs.
Immediate benefits of this Environment Court decision are the preservation of the iconic nature of the essence of Tairua, and the environment. The enhancement and protection of Paku Bay, and its continuing use by everyone can now be addressed.
Long-term benefits will be the expansion of the eco-tourism industry, uninterrupted by the distraction of having to oppose an insensitive and inappropriate development.
This decision comes after 4 years of angst for a large number of Tairua residents, many of whom have given massively of their expertise, time, energy and money to oppose a large marina in Paku Bay. Exterior pressure from non-resident “developers” has been resisted. Most of the town is feeling greatly relieved.
We hope all Tairua people can now give their energy to the completion and implementation of the Town Plan, which has at the core of it’s vision, after thorough consultation, the protection and enhancement of the environment. This, in 2005, is what this seaside town has decided it wants.
Bruce Gilberd, Chairman, Paku Bay Preservation Society.