Discussion of impact on Marlborough of ferry terminal move

Public meetings organised by the Marlborough District Council will be held next week to enable public discussion about the impact on the Marlborough region should the government decide to relocate the Picton ferry terminal to Clifford Bay.

The meetings will be a chance to bring people up to date on the Council’s understanding of the project and to give people a chance to express their views.

Mayor Alistair Sowman says the Ministry of Transport has stressed that, at this stage, the financial feasibility of the project is still being assessed and any decision by the government to move to the next stage is still some months away.

However, it was important to begin the task of assembling information on the impact on businesses and communities at local level even though the government is still in the early fact-finding stage itself, said Mr Sowman.

“This will be a central government decision but we do want to make sure that Council can relay to those politicians an authoritative report on the regional impact; both the upside and the downside of such a decision.”

As a first step, it is intended that a report to the District Council will be prepared from the public feedback received at the four public meetings that are scheduled.

Meetings are being held at the following venues:

1. Monday, 11 February at 7.00 pm at the Queen Charlotte College Hall, Picton
2. Tuesday, 12 February at 12 noon at the Awatere Memorial Hall, Seddon
3. Tuesday, 12 February at 7.00 pm at the Marlborough Convention Centre, Blenheim
4. Wednesday, 13 February at 12 noon at the Havelock Hall, Havelock

 

Enquiries to Council Executive Projects Manager Jamie Lyall, phone 03 520 7400.