The site 2 Keepa Road : an overview of benefits
Artist’s impression : Te Rāhui on completion
11 hectares of land at 2 Keepa Road - described as Part Allot 28B 22 Rangitaiki PSH - has been selected as the site on which Te Rāhui will be built.
About the Site
The Raupatu of 1866 resulted in the confiscation of some 245,000 hectares of Ngāti Awa land. As part of the return of land by the Compensation Court, a 29 hectare block was vested in Māori owners, predominantly of Ngāti Hokopū descent. A portion was reserved for roading, soil and water control purposes, and once the State Highway was constructed, 11 hectares was left, with over 1,100 owners.
This site was chosen for the boat harbour because:
Its large size provides ample space to provide for the current and future requirements of Whakatane’s commercial vessels, a Marine Training Centre, and other activities. It does not involve construction of structures extending into the river and there is plenty of space for buildings and services, including carparking, and a new public boat ramp.
Its protected, sheltered location for vessels behind the existing stopbank provides protection for vessels from damage during flood events. There is capacity to also shelter all of the residual vessels from town wharves and moorings during a flood. No adverse impacts on river hydrology and flood heights are expected as a result of the boat harbour.
It doesn’t impact any important cultural sites of significance for Iwi on the river.
The boat harbour location will provide an attractive vista of boats and water at the entrance to the Whakatane town centre.
It is located away from the town centre, helping to reduce truck movements and congestion. It is in close proximity to industrial land, and existing major boat builders. Noise from boat maintenance, dust and odour and truck unloading is well away from amenities such as restaurants, promenade walking, residential and retail.
The sheltered location and large site outside of the river allows for less complex and more affordable construction including traditional angled rip rap revetment walls as compared to costly vertical structures within the river flood zone. This site also avoids disruption to the public during the construction works.
The site, and wider area east of the stopbank, has a long history of modification and has previously been used as a dumping ground for wood waste material / timber peelings from the Whakatāne Mill. While this activity ceased some time ago, the material remains on site. The development of the site will enable a wider remediation of the area of ‘contamination’ from the Mill’s waste, in a manner that restores, in accordance with the landowners’ aspirations, the mauri of the whenua.
Overall, development of the Te Rāhui will enable the site to be remediated, transformed and developed to provide significant cultural, social, economic and environmental benefits for the Whakatāne awa and community, and the wider Bay of Plenty.