Bream Bay is booming

Emily Henderson

Every time I visit Bream Bay I am blown away by how fast this area is growing, and yet community spirit is going strong.

Over the past 20 months, our approach to COVID-19 has served Bream Bay well. With a low number of cases, which we’ve been able to contain, our economy is in good shape.

It is easy to feel like we will always be living in these times, but last time I was in Waipu and read the War Memorial I was reminded of the adversity our grandparents and great grandparents faced. We must remember we are all human, and share the same opponent. Nowhere in the world has yet eliminated a Delta outbreak. This is our generations call to protect our community.

Our plan will keep New Zealanders safe, while ensuring we can enjoy summer with fewer disruptions and more certainty. Businesses can safely open, events can go ahead, and people can plan ahead with confidence, because our high vaccination rates mean lockdowns are no longer our main line of defence against COVID. At the time of writing, One Tree Point and Marsden Bay can be proud they are only a few doses away from 90% double vaccination, protecting their loved ones, and our community.

We know that Covid has affected some industries more than others, and the downsizing of our Refinery been one casualty: unable to compete with new, large-scale, overseas refineries that have better efficiency and lower emissions.

Faced with those conditions, shareholders have decided to convert to an import only terminal. We have been working with stakeholders to alleviate difficulties for families, the community, and find new opportunities for Bream Bays’ future industries.

We understand we need to ensure security of supply, and have done extensive work on the potential geopolitical risks (bearing in mind all fuel refined at Marsden Point are already imported), and consider these to be very low. I understand refining operations are expected to transition between March and June this year, and tank conversions may take 12 to 18 months, which suggests reserve stocks of refined products could be held at Marsden Point from next year.

If we realise our potential, I see Bream Bay as a community that has a strong future in agriculture and horticulture, in the marine industry, and in tourism, embracing new technology while using the bestlocated port in New Zealand to add value to our national supply chain.

Northport has huge potential to drive our future development. A new shipyard and drydock are estimated to require 400 new jobs, and would support the Navy’s partial relocation to Whangārei, and a port extension taking some of the weight off Auckland Port. The Government has already committed to creating a national supply chain strategy focused on the Upper North Island, and has invested in strengthening Northport’s position in that by building the rail spur needed to connect it to the national rail network. At its peak, it’s estimated the Marsden Spur

Rev Thomas Waight from Waipu Presbyterian Church and Peter Blanche working together on Waipu River Walk community-led project.

Visiting Ruakaka Primary School to announce new shortterm roll growth class rooms.

will employ 200 people in the build, over approximately 5 years.

Meanwhile, as New Zealand transitions away from fossil fuels, sub-tropical Bream Bay gives us an important head-start in adapting to changing climate. Leveraging off expertise in horticulture such as Rohe Produce Ltd which has been granted a $14 million loan from the Provincial Growth fund to build a high-tech tomato hot house for the winter domestic market. It is estimated projects like this would support around 200 construction jobs while the build progresses, and then 110 permanent jobs for the growing operation.

Greater use of digital technology will be a hallmark of commerce in the future. With fibre available in Waipu, I see the potential for these places to contribute to a higher wage, higher productivity and lower carbon economy. Studies show that high-tech jobs create more indirect jobs than any other industry, and hold the most promise for continued growth.

Thank you, to everyone who is working on the roving check-points, and for those locals and tourists who have been patient, and allowed extra time to travel this summer. Your mahi means we can all look forward to another great summer with more opportunities in 2022.