Heritage, wildlife, boaties, tourists and locals all mingle at Oamaru Harbour. For the past several years, it has also become the focal point of debate in North Otago’s largest town.
So, by the end of June, the Waitaki District Council will have a 30-year vision and high-level design principles for the area in place. Hamish MacLean checks in.
Oamaru was once notorious for drownings and shipwrecks, but the town's 1872 Heritage New Zealand category 1 historic breakwater has kept Oamaru Harbour safe for generations.
The harbour is home to roughly 1000 little penguins, and the Otago colony of shags is the largest in New Zealand - touted as "one of the seabird capitals of the world'', it draws tourists from around the globe.
Oamaruvians continue to use the harbour every day as well - the Oamaru Rowing Club can trace its roots back to 1886.
This week, the Waitaki District Council pushed "go'' on its Oamaru Harbour Space Masterplan project and quadrupled the project's budget, from $50,000 to $200,000.
Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher, who traces his own involvement in planning at the harbour to 2003, says the harbour today has matured, but has also been the product of evolution.
"There are a lot of people who have contributed to it and we are all proud of it,'' he says.
"We want to make sure that it continues to be a popular area.''
"That's really what the plan is about, making sure that we're not always having to relitigate what's happening down there in that area,'' Mr Kircher says.
The just-adopted Oamaru Harbour Space Masterplan establishment report sums up the need for a master plan like this: ``There have been a number of developments proposed in the harbour area recently, some of which have created a lot of conversation in the community. Any lasting development in this area needs to have a clear direction, supported by the community, that shapes the future and guides any changes.''
In 2015, a zipline concept was floated as a tourism drawcard as visitors were becoming increasingly important to Oamaru's economy.
A visitors attraction study was then commissioned by the council and a business case for a zipline was drawn up.
But as the extent and nature of the seabird life in Oamaru became better known, those original plans were scrapped.
Meanwhile, in 2017, the council began seeking expressions of interest from developers looking to create visitor accommodation at the harbour.
The Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust called for a halt to any harbour development until a master plan was put in place, the community packed out council chambers for a public forum on harbour issues, the council announced dredging of the harbour would recommence after a seven-year hiatus, the Otago shag colony on Sumpter Wharf was declared the largest in New Zealand, the interest group Friends of Oamaru Harbour was created, and consultation on the master plan began.
The establishment report calls the master plan's predecessor, the 2011 strategy, "more of an action plan than a strategy proper''.
The new master plan will "provide high level design principles'' for the forthcoming district plan, due as a draft by March 2020.
And those who will craft the draft plan to go out for public consultation at the end of May will include four stakeholder representatives and the harbour area committee, chaired by Mr Kircher, which includes Crs Jeremy Holding, Jim Hopkins, Guy Percival, Melanie Tavendale, and Colin Wollstein.
This week, the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust and the North Otago Yacht and Powerboat Club were named as two of the stakeholders to participate, but the remaining two are yet to be decided.
The establishment report includes a "shareholder matrix'' - it identifies 12 groups to "manage closely'' including Oamaruvians, media, potential developers, Heritage New Zealand, the Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust, the Department of Conservation, the North Otago Yacht and Powerboat Club and Tourism Waitaki.
The report lists six groups to "keep satisfied'', including iwi, the Ministry for Business, Education and Investment, and the Otago Regional Council.
And those with the lowest interest and influence, but which are included in the matrix, include the Oamaru Licensing Trust and Oamaru police.
The lead manager for the project, deputy chief executive Neil Jorgensen is "getting feedback'' now, contacting stakeholders, Mr Kircher says.
"The important thing to know is we're trying to get different representatives for different aspects. And trying to get groups or individuals that are as representative as possible.
"All of the stakeholders though, what we're hoping to do is get the draft plan together and give them an early look at it to make sure we haven't made any mistakes.
"And that they've got the opportunity to give us some feedback before we put it out to the wider public - we want to make sure that it is well tested.''
In a statement issued this week, the council said the master plan would feature: land use and a spatial plan; transport, connectivity and accessibility; and heritage and the environment.
"It will act as a guiding document for future changes and development including a set of principles that help filter ideas and proposals to ensure Oamaru continues to have one of the best little harbours in the country.''
Key dates
- Late March: Vision and key outcomes workshop
- April 16: Harbour Area Committee, masterplan shortlist
- April 30: Council meeting, shortlist confirmation
- May 28: Harbour Area Committee, adopt preferred option to begin public consultation
- June 25: Council endorsement of master plan
A recent history of Oamaru Harbour
- July 2015: Waitaki Mayor Gary Kircher moots a zipline across the harbour as a possible tourist drawcard
- December 2016: Business case endorses zipline concept
- May 2017: Council seeks accommodation developers for harbour land
- July: Environmental concerns over zipline come to the fore
- June 2018: Harbour zipline scheme revised
- July: Floating hotel proposed for Oamaru
- July: Accommodation complex announced for Waterfront Rd
- July: Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust calls for a halt on development until a harbour master plan is in place
- September 2018: Council chambers standing room only for public forum on zipline
- October: Sumpter Wharf confirmed as largest colony of Otago shags
- October: Friends of Oamaru Harbour established
- October: Consultation on harbour master plan begins
