Ports of Auckland announced the draft of a 30-year Master Plan in order to further develop the port of Auckland while it is being relocated. The plan for the Auckland port aims to balances Auckland’s economic, social and environmental needs.
As Chief Executive Tony Gibson said Auckland Council, is undertaking a project to find a new port location. Something that can be very time-consuming in order for the best location as well as for the funds to be found.
“We have listened to what our stakeholders and Aucklanders want and need from the port, and our operations in relation to the Waitematā Harbour. In response, we’ve developed a Draft 30-year Master Plan that we think balances Auckland’s economic, social and environmental needs. Our plan provides transparency and certainty about what we need to do to continue delivering for Aucklanders. It creates space for freight and gives Auckland Council the time it needs to make a sound decision on where, when and how to move the port,” Tony Gibson stated.
The master plan for Auckland will include the automation of the container terminal, completion of a deep-water terminal berth and installation of three new cranes. This project, along with other projects outlined in the plan, will provide Auckland with additional capacity in its container terminal to serve a population of up to 5 million.
To date Auckland is facing significant capacity issues on its general cargo wharves and the plan includes an increase in berth space: “We also have a plan to increase berth space. We are proposing to build a new wharf running east-west along the north end of Bledisloe Terminal, in line with the recommendations of Auckland Council’s Port Future Study. It will be a piled structure in line with our commitment to no further reclamation, but it will reach an extra 13 metres north into the harbour. However this 13 metres is essential to the success of the other wharf projects,” Mr. Gibson said.
The new plan for incorporates the removal of all Marsden Wharf and part of a wharf known as ‘B1’. This will bring three redundant wharves back into use and create nearly a kilometre of new general cargo berth space.
Furthermore, as announced, the new plan includes the creation of a five-storey car handling building which will enhance the capacity, hide cars from view and free up space on Captain Cook Wharf. On top of this building a waterfront park.
