Communities in the outer Marlborough Sounds will soon regain access to a local petrol supply after a $350,000 grant was approved from the Regional Infrastructure Fund.
The funding will support the installation of new fuel infrastructure at Elaine Bay, restoring a service considered critical for residents, visitors and essential industries.
The grant has been awarded to not-for-profit community group Elaine Bay Fuel Services, which will install a 20,000-litre petrol tank and dispensing equipment alongside the existing diesel facility. Once operational, the site will provide local refuelling for marine farmers, boat operators, tourists and emergency services, removing the need for a one-hour drive to Rai Valley.
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones said the investment was about keeping regional industries operating and maintaining connectivity for isolated communities. He said aquaculture, tourism and farming are central to the Marlborough Sounds economy and require dependable fuel access to function effectively.
More than 15,600 tourists, campers and recreational boaters visit the area each year, and improved fuel availability is expected to support local businesses while improving the visitor experience. The project also strengthens resilience in a region where road access is vulnerable to extreme weather events and closures can last weeks.
Elaine Bay Fuel Services will contribute $235,000 toward the project, with the full fuel service expected to be restored by the end of 2026.
Capital expenditure is not normally tax deductible but may be depreciable if it results in ownership or a depreciable asset
What moron thought it would be a good idea to remove access to fuel in the Marlborough sounds in the first place? FFS leftist greenies need to wake up and realise that oil is not the enemy- it’s the reason they have antibiotics, glue, nails and hammers, tires, food they can afford to buy, tin, timber, and so on.
The enemy is leftist greenies who think we need to go back to the stoneage
Excellent news!