The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has just released the latest video update on their Opureora Channel Dredging Project.
For many years, the Opureora Channel has been used as a primary accessway for boat traffic between Matakana Island and the mainland at Omokoroa. It provides a critical lifeline for island residents that need to access emergency services, transport goods, and conduct their work or personal business on the mainland.
Sediment movement in Tauranga Harbor has caused a shallowing of the channel in recent years, limiting access to the Matakana Island wharf and jetty at Opureora, especially at low tide.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council has obtained resource consents to dredge the channel to improve low tide access.