$400k investment for Central Hawke’s Bay’s Te Paerahi beach community

Central Hawke’s Bay District Council (CHBDC) has secured $406, 896 from the Tourism Infrastructure Fund (TIF) to upgrade drinking water facilities and beach toilets at Te Paerahi, Porangahau Beach.

The improvements include the upgrade of the Porangahau water treatment plant and additional water storage solutions. They will ensure Te Paerahi is well equipped to respond to the increasing demand on facilities generated by recent tourism growth, while minimising the adverse effects on locals. The TIF will also contribute to the operational costs of the facilities for the first two years.

The TIF is administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and employment, and provides up to $25 million annually to develop tourism-related infrastructure that supports regions facing pressure from tourism growth. This is the first time CHBDC has been successful with TIF funding.

Central Hawke’s Bay has seen a sharp rise in tourism growth in recent years, and in the year 2018-19 total tourism spend increased by 15.1% from $31.9m in January 2018 to $36.8m in January 2019.  

The secluded beaches of Central Hawke’s Bay are a significant draw card for visitors, and the number of freedom campers to the Porangahau area, particularly at the Te Paerahi freedom camping site, are on the rise.  

The increase in tourists over the spring-autumn period has not only put pressure on existing toilet facilities, which are no longer fit for purpose, but has also resulted in regular water restrictions, and in the height of summer full non-essential water use bans.

The new toilet facilities are expected to be completed and operational by January 2020, and additional water storage facilities to be operational by March 2020.

CEO Monique Davidson says “People are awakening to the fact that Central Hawke’s Bay is a beautiful and secluded holiday destination, and this is evidenced by our growing visitor numbers and tourism spend”.

“We warmly welcome visitors to share in our beautiful slice of paradise, but we are also mindful of the impact that tourism growth can have on our local residents. This funding will significantly improve the experience of tourism for both locals and visitors alike, which is a big win all round.”

15 July 2019

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