The opening of Tauranga's Marine Precinct has been delayed because of extra time taken over looking at alternative hardstand designs.

That's the message project director Phil Wardale will deliver at today's city council monitoring committee meeting.

Tauranga's Marine Precinct will now open late next year. Photo: File.

The expected unveiling, which was originally scheduled for the middle of next year, is now late-2016.

The extra time will enable the project team to review alternative design solutions for the hardstand while considering travel lift machines of varying capacity, style and wheel configurations, says Phil.

Engineers were contracted to provide expert advice on the selection of the most appropriate design for the marine precinct location.

Phil says there has also been a decision made to lift the entire 6,500m2 hardstand area by close to a metre above the existing ground levels, because of a need to protect the site from future sea level rise and to comply with the flood plain hazard zone.

'This decision has provided some challenges with the design and associated costs,” says Phil.

'However, these are being worked through to provide the most comprehensive and world-class hardstand in New Zealand.”

Design alternatives are also being considered for the alongside berths, which will renew the existing face of the seawall.

The funding agreement with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council is expected to be executed before the end of this month. The $10.4 million project is a joint venture, with $5 million coming from council's Regional Infrastructure Fund.

Funding remains conditional upon the confirmation of all necessary consents, and Tauranga City Council's ability to comply with the conditions within the consents for the project.

The filing of the consent application is delayed while detailed design of the heavy pavement works is completed. This will direct the finer details of the consent application, which will incorporate the earthworks required for the storm water system.

Some 37 parties have expressed interest in buying into the project. The sale and purchase agreements are approved and written, and also await the conclusion of the Funding Agreement.

The subdivision of the site is close to being consented by city council, says Phil, while subdivision consent is also a precondition of the Funding Agreement.

Buying the project's 200-plus tonne travel-lift is almost complete, and Phil reveals they have identified a preferred supplier.