UNISA Study: Ports Can Meet Future Freight Demand
Media release
29 November 2012
UNISA Study: Ports Can Meet Future Freight Demand
An independent technical study on the current and future freight demand for ports and ports-related infrastructure in the upper North Island is now complete.
The study, which began in June, was designed to build a common understanding of the current and future freight demand for ports and ports related infrastructure in the upper North Island, scenarios to meet the demand and the potential implications.
Projections from the study, conducted by PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) on behalf of the Upper North Island Strategic Alliance (UNISA), suggest that the upper North Island port network (which includes Northport and Refining NZ at Marsden Point, Ports of Tauranga and Ports of Auckland) will experience strong growth over the next 30 years but will have the capacity to meet the projected freight task.
Key findings from the report
include:
• Annual tonnage growth across the upper North
Island port network of 1.7% - 2.3%
• Although the port
network can meet future demands, it needs to become more
efficient (particularly in container trade) and incremental
investment in infrastructure is necessary, including the
completion of consented works
• The Port of Auckland is
likely to face capacity constraints ahead of the other
ports, which will require a range of possible
responses
• Pressures on land transport infrastructure
are likely to be less than those on port infrastructure due
to the growth in transhipping (when cargo is offloaded at a
port and loaded directly onto another vessel)
• Any
substantial changes to the configuration of the upper North
Island port system would have significant costs that would
likely outweigh the benefits.
UNISA undertook the study to gain a collective picture of the upper North Island ports’ infrastructure for the benefit of all of New Zealand. The upper North Island ports system plays a major role as New Zealand’s link to the rest of the world.
UNISA members agree that ensuring the upper North Island ports and related infrastructure function well, now and in the future, is key to New Zealand remaining internationally competitive and prosperous.
Each of the UNISA councils will formally receive and consider the report at their appropriate December 2012 council or committee meetings.
Due to the non-binding nature of the
study, each individual UNISA council will decide what
further work, if any, it will pursue regarding its own
port(s) and the implications for its region as a result of
the study.
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Background
information
UNISA comprises the territorial
authorities from Whangarei district, Hamilton city, Tauranga
city and Auckland as well as the regional councils from
Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Northland. UNISA’s purpose is
to respond and manage a range of agreed inter-regional and
inter-metropolitan
issues.
ENDS