Bay of Plenty Regional Council's $18million commitment to Opotiki's Harbour Redevelopment project reflects strong regional support for the project and the benefits it will bring to the wider Bay of Plenty.

The Regional Infrastructure Funding decision secures almost half the funding needed to complete the venture and work to secure the other half is already well underway.

Council recently committed the million dollar infrastructure funding figure to the project to build twin groynes and associated works to create a year-round navigable harbour entrance at Opotiki.

The project is an enabling project for Whakatohea's aquaculture proposal and other marine activities.

Opotiki District Council chief executive Aileen Lawrie says this pledge is a massive step forward for the project and provides both financial backing and a very clear indication of regional support for the project.

'From here, we take both the promise of funding and the Regional Council's endorsement to Wellington to bolster our application for central government funding to match,” says Aileen.

The grants, available to all successful RIF applications, are subject to a number of contractual obligations which will be built into a Heads of Agreement between the organisations to ensure that public money is allocated carefully. Funding will be provided when all conditions are met.

In the case of Opotiki's funding conditions include funding is also provided by central government for the proposal; there is viable commercial commitment in Whakatohea's Aquaculture project, and some general conditions around project governance and management.

'The joint Opotiki Marine Farm and Harbour Redevelopment projects are significant locally, regionally and nationally. They will contribute significantly to GDP and create 320 to 450 full time equivalent jobs. These are the sort of ideas that we are taking to Wellington and we have already started to get some great support at a national level for the project.”