Marina’s future reviewed
Selling the Seaview Marina could be a step closer.
At the presentation of the marina’s six-monthly report and draft statement of intent, the city council’s finance committee last week held a wide ranging discussion on the future of the council-owned facility.
Marina manager Allan McLennan said the marina is moving to a point where all the major development will be finished.
It should be finished within five to six years and at that point the council will have to consider its options.
‘‘It will be a valuable asset both from a dividend point of view and a from a sale point of view.’’
Cr Lisa Bridson said the marina appears to be a ‘‘bottom- less pit’’ and she wanted to see more progress.
McLennan replied the strategy had always been to develop the marina to ‘‘maximise’’ the return to the council. That process is about to finish and the council will have to decide what to do next.
Cr David Bassett agreed with Bridson and sought an assurance that marina management have a firm finish date in mind.
The city council-owned breakwater could be a major stumbling block. When the council transferred the marina to the company that now runs it, it retained ownership of the breakwater.
The marina could not operate without the breakwater, which was originally valued at $5.6 million.
The council plans to sell it to the company but getting an agreement on how much it is worth may be difficult.
Council chief financial officer Paul Blacker said the council valued it at $2.8m. McLennan suggested a valuation of $1.2m.
Bassett argued the council had to be ‘‘sensitive’’ in dealing with the sale of the breakwater. The financial implications for recreational boaties has to be taken into account, he said.