City leaders say port here to stay

Auckland city’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor today confirmed the council’s full support of the Ports of Auckland and the key role it plays in the city and region’s economy.

“There is absolutely no suggestion that the Auckland City Council would like to move the ports away from their CBD location,” said Mayor Dick Hubbard, who met with his deputy Bruce Hucker last week to discuss recent speculation over the port’s future.

“Ports of Auckland generates one third of the region’s economy. Independent research has shown that 20,000 jobs would be lost if it closed,” he said.

“Auckland is blessed with a very large CBD waterfront and the port company has started to consolidate its operations at the eastern end. There is plenty of scope for linking our city with the Waitemata Harbour and a vibrant, working port will be a key part of the plans.”

More than 700 public submissions were received on the future of the CBD waterfront. The joint consultation, being run by Auckland City, Auckland Regional Council and Ports of Auckland, closed last Friday. The partner organisations hope to adopt an agreed joint vision for the development of the waterfront in June.

“The next step will be to start achieving some of the goals so it’s not just a vision on paper,” said Deputy Mayor Dr Bruce Hucker. “Detailed planning and any necessary district or coastal plan changes will get underway as soon as possible after June.”

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