Scoop  Regional

Thursday January 26, 2012
www.facebook.com/yourportyourcall

The Ports of Auckland’s expansion plans have been in the public domain for more than a year but unless you know what you’re looking for, they’re hard to find and recognise.

While the Draft City Centre Masterplan has many glossy photos showing potential new developments in the city, there’s nothing about the Port’s expansion plans.

Plans to expand the container wharves have been around since 1989 when the port company and regional authorities agreed on setting aside an area of harbour for port use. This has been granted resource consent.

The first step in the process for gaining approval to proceed with this expansion is that the current Auckland Plan receives Council support. Council workshops discussing the plan begin next week.

The port has worked in conjunction with Waterfront Auckland, which is a council entity, to develop what it wants to do. The Draft Waterfront Plan talks about ensuring “that Auckland makes the most of the opportunities afforded by the waterfront, the superb natural setting and sparkling Waitemata Harbour, as the heart of New Zealand’s global city”.

The Mayor’s vision is to make Auckland the “world’s most liveable city”. Leading Aucklanders say the expansion proposed in the plans seems inconsistent with this philosophy.

Waterfront Auckland has what it calls a ‘working waterfront’ as one of its four goals for the harbour edge.

The image below mentions many exciting projects but there is no mention of a port expansion and the image certainly doesn’t show what a ‘working waterfront’ might look like in 30 years’ time.

[Source: http://www.waterfrontauckland.co.nz/aucklandwaterfront/media/waPlan/intro/intro.pdf]

• Action 1: Develop/enhance Westhaven as the Pacific’s premier marina destination


• Action 2: Preserve and expand the marine and super yacht industry at Wynyard Quarter


• Action 3: Enhance the existing Fishing Village on Jellicoe Street as the focul point for the fishing industry


• Action 4: Develop the central wharves as ther city’s gateway for cruise operations


• Action 5: Integrate the connection/relationship between the Port and the city and improve port efficiency

It is interesting to note also that the port has said it will sell Captain Cook Wharf back to Auckland so it can be developed for public use. Remember, the port is 100% owned by the Auckland Council…i.e. the ratepayers.

However, the release of Captain Cook wharf is conditional upon gaining consent for the future extension of Bledisloe wharf. While resource consents have yet to be obtained, the approval of the plan in its current form is the first step to approving these expansion plans. It is also dependent on the construction of replacement storage facilities for customers who are currently serviced at Captain Cook, most notably a five storey carpark to service the imported car industry.

So…Auckland gets Captain Cook wharf and the port gets a bigger Bledisloe which equates to a land area around 16 times larger.

The council votes on the plans in late March. It’s not too late to make your opinions heard.

Public submissions on the draft Auckland waterfront plan closed on 31 October however the council is due to consider the plan in February with a final vote in late March.

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To find out more and to have your say about the Ports of Auckland plans go to www.facebook.com/yourportyourcall and ‘Like’ the page, leave a comment, read more about the plans and see the video.

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ENDS

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