Chairman retires after 33 years of service
The Chairman and long-standing member of Warkworth Harbour Commission has retired after 33 years of service.
đź“· Maurice Burnett
Maurice Burnett joined the Harbour Authority in August 1992 as a commissioner and by September of 1994 he had taken on the role of Chairman which he has held ever since.
There have been many changes over the years of Mr. Burnett’s chairmanship, both to the infrastructure of the harbour and the transformation from the ex-coal exporting port, to a vibrant tourist destination.
The first completed project came in the late 90s and into the year 2000, which saw major improvements to the quay and restoration of the South Pier, which was completely transformed into a lovely walking route for public enjoyment.
In 2001, an agreement was secured with the RNLI for a new boat house and dock, which freed up the old lifeboat house as a commercial opportunity, now the Old Boat House restaurant.
Other significant changes soon followed, including improvements to Coble Quay which paved the way for the Harbour Village, a series of varied and exciting retail units that has become a hub for visitors and locals.
The incoming chairman, Robert Booth said “Maurice Burnett’s legacy for the port has been enormous, and over the years of his tenure he has overseen the transformation of what was a harbour scarred from past industry, to a thriving, exciting place to live and visit.”
Mr. Booth added “Amble harbour is a trust port and operates as a charity, so all income generated by its diverse activities is ploughed back into the port.
“This in turn helps support the traditional fishing industry with infrastructure such as the ice plant, quayside davits and improved storage units”.
During his time at the harbour, there have been major obstacles to overcome. A storm in 2008 caused a partial collapse of the Broomhill Quay wall, along with damage to the fuel-oil store. The recovery and enhancement work that took place over the following five years paved the way for a new vision for the harbour’s future development, which saw the building of a new harbour office, Coquet House, which incorporates retail units and complements the other popular shops and eating places along the quays. Even beach huts were built along the Little Shore, adding to the image of a new thriving harbour and popular marina.
In summary, Robert Booth said “The renaissance of the harbour has been a huge achievement to be proud of, and it’s a sad day to see Maurice Burnett step down as a Chairman and Commissioner.
“However, there can be no doubt that the Harbour is a much better place from having Maurice at the helm for so long both from a business financial point of view and most definitely aesthetics point of view. This is credit to the dedication and time he gave over the years, for which the staff and commissioners are truly grateful”
