BASKER ROAST NIGHT
3A Reweti Drive (opposite Mobil) www.basker.co.nz info@basker.co.nz Phone: 07 866 0645 Hours 8.00am to late
Every Wednesday night from 5pm Pork, lamb, chicken or beef Buffet salad and sauce bar Bookings recommended
Te Kai Whakarongo
Issue 1156 Circulation 9000
CONNECTING COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COROMANDEL PENINSULA
6 May 2025 | Proudly locally owned and operated
theinformer.co.nz
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THE WHITIANGA ESPLANADE PREFERRED Coming to the OPTION REVEALED Coromandel BY PAULINE STEWART
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ercury Bay Performing Arts (MBPA) debut production, Disney’s Aladdin Jr, will be delighting audiences in the next ten days with several performances at the Mercury Bay Area School Auditorium. Led by musician, songwriter, and CFM Breakfast Host, Fabian Roberts, this production has been all about involving and developing the talent and enthusiasm of children and young people through musical theatre. The story of Aladdin has a lot of mystery and excitement, based in a realm of fantasy with a battle for good to win over evil. Disney turned it into an animated movie block buster with breathtaking music and colour. Mercury Bay Performing Arts purchased the rights to present it in Whitianga. A team of producers, directors, technicians and support crew plus a phenomenal cast of very talented children and young people are bringing it to the stage for the residents and visitors on the Coromandel. Continued on page 3
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referred options on how to improve Whitianga’s marine facilities and waterfront area have been sent to The Informer by TCDC and will be presented to the Mercury Bay Community Board on Wednesday 7 May. Stage 1 and 2 of the project involved developing concept plans to upgrade local marine structures, the waterfront area, and the Robinson Road Boat Ramp area. This followed review of previous studies, and involved input from local user groups, residents, commercial operators and iwi representatives. Public consultation, including community drop-in sessions and a survey on the options, was held from November to December 2024. Survey respondents listed walking/jogging/running, the passenger ferry, the playground, waterfront
events and recreational trailer boating as the most popular activities in these areas. Other survey findings, including most popular priorities, and how the project got to this point can be found on the Council’s website. A report, and the preferred concept plans recommended by the Projects Advisory Group, will now be presented to the Community Board at its 7 May meeting.
THE PREFERRED CONCEPT PLANS ARE: 1. A new public pier with dedicated commercial fishing hub at existing wharf (Concept 1) 2. R etention of the playground, better parking (Concept 3) 3. R obinson Road Boat Ramp upgrades and overflow parking – do nothing, plans deferred due to funding limitations (Concept 5) If the Community Board
decides to proceed, over the next 18 months Stage 3 and 4 of the project will focus on detailed design and business case development. Stage 3 & 4 is estimated to cost $1.1m and can be accommodated by existing budgets. Whether the substantive construction (Stage 5) goes ahead, will be determined in the 20272037 Long Term Plan when the community will again have the chance to have its say. Continued on page 2
The Coromandel Informer – 6 May 2025 | 1