A long ''pre-application'' process is expected before Southern Clams' proposal to finish Bluff oysters in Otago Harbour is accepted, the Otago Regional Council says.
Southern Clams has applied to the regional council twice for resource consent to place 2-year-old oysters in certified growing-water areas in the harbour for two to four weeks until they can be commercially harvested.
The oysters would be supplied by New Zealand Bluff Oyster Company. The company has a marine oyster farm in Bluff Harbour but the quality of water there has not achieved approved growing-water status, so no shellfish can be taken for direct sale.
Council resource management director Selva Selvarajah said at a recent meeting the council had rejected the applications due to a lack of appropriate information.
Southern Clams had indicated it would apply again and council staff would work with it to ensure the information was complete.
''It'll be a long pre-application process until we are satisfied we have the information.''
The information needed involved issues such as visual impact and where the oysters would be placed within the area indicated, he said.
''We are very keen to work with them.''
