A piled wharf attached to the existing reclamation at the Sugarloaf/Te Kouma Wharf is looking to be the preferred option for improvements at the facility.

This follows discussions between the Thames-Coromandel District Council and the Coromandel Marine Farmers Association in the past year around improvements at the wharf.

Sugarloaf/Te Kouma Wharf. Photo: File

Chief Executive David Hammond says the wharf improvement are part of the council's Coromandel Harbour Facilities Project.

But David adds that council needs to ensure the facility is fit-for-purpose for aquaculture industry expansion, while suiting the needs of other users including recreational fishers.

'The CoroMFA Executive Sub-Committee have indicated that the structure that possibly best suits their future needs is a piled wharf attached to the existing reclamation,” explains David.

'This decision could change the nature of the role that our council would have in respect to consenting and funding the new development.”

Alongside this, council has also been working to resolve land ownership title for reclaimed land at the Sugarloaf, which requires on-going iwi input and consultation.

Council owns the infrastructure upon the reclamation but does not have the title to the foreshore and reclamation.

Iwi have signalled their proprietary interests in the foreshore and seabed, and therefore the footprint upon which the reclamation sits, via various Treaty settlement-related processes including the current Hauraki Claims.

'We've been taking considered advice on a range of possible ownership structures and approaches of the Sugarloaf reclamation that can be done in partnership with iwi,” adds David. 'Our next step will be continuing discussions with iwi on the best option that suits all.”

For more information visit the Thames-Coromandel District Council's Coromandel Harbour Facilities Project webpage.