At the Bay of Plenty Regional Council annual plan hearings, environment group Harbour Watch is expected to oppose the Tauranga Bridge Marina's plans for a 245m rock wall breakwater on the northern side of the marina.

Tauranga Bridge Marina is applying for a Coastal Permit to construct a rock wall breakwater around the northern perimeter of the existing marina.

Tony Arnold wants a new rock wall built at the Tauranga Bridge Marina.

The application was lodged in November 2010, with more than 40 supporting the proposal and a handful opposing it, including the Port of Tauranga Ltd, and the NZ Transport Agency.

Bridge marina manager Tony Arnold says in 14 years he's seen a number of northerly storms that have caused significant damage to boats and the marina.

Vessels at the marina have been damaged in storms, breaking mooring lines, or even breaking loose.

The marina structure itself has been damaged with connecting bolts between the pontoons being broken as well as pontoons incurring damage.

'Luckily to date no-one has been seriously injured or worse,” says Tony.

'We have put together a dedicated group of staff and volunteers who have put their names on a list should we need help in a bad storm, tsunami or another disaster – but we dread the day we get a northerly storm of cyclone strength in the hours of darkness.”

The bridge marina is protected by a 3.6m wide pontoon round the northern extent of the marina.

It was intended to reduce the wave height within the marina, but it has not performed to expectations.