A new inter-island ferry service between Motueka and Whanganui – that would lessen the journey between Auckland and Christchurch by four hours – is under investigation.
Motueka, near Nelson, has been identified as a likely South Island location for the inter-island service that would cater for trucks and freight while also targeting campervans, cars and passengers according to Stuff article ‘Strong support for new Motueka-Whanganui ferry link proposal’.
Whanganui businessman Neville Johnson, who set up Midwest Ferries in October 2010, has been investigating options for a roll on, roll off service for the last six years, reported Stuff.
If the service does eventuate, the new ferry would travel between terminals based at Castlecliff and Port Motueka, whose main wharf is owned and operated by Talley’s Group.
Company director Andrew Talley confirmed that Johnson has been in consultation with them as owner of the Motueka wharf, and a potential customer, of a ferry service to the North Island, according to the article.
However, he emphasised discussions did not involve Talley being an investor or partner in the project.
“Johnson’s obviously in the early stages of scoping the project so there’s further detail to come, but an alternative North Island transport link from the Nelson/Tasman region would be significant for the area,” he said in the article.
Johnson did not wish to comment further until next week, while plans are being established.
However, in the ‘Wanganui Chronicle’ recently he said that discussions with major industries shifting freight between both islands had confirmed a service was achievable.
Johnson told the paper a startup fund of $50 million would be required to enable the project. This would cover the dredging, land reclamation, vessel leasing, infrastructure, costs of employing 20 shore staff and administration costs. He added that 28,000 fare-paying clients a year were necessary to make the service viable, an average of 76 a day.
Transport firms have also thrown their support behind Johnson’s proposal, reported Stuff.
Motueka-based Westhaul Transport Services managing director Karl Westrupp said the inter-island route was a “fairly substantial part” of his business operations and the reduction in travel time would open up significant avenues for transport operators and local industries.
“We’ve had a few meetings with Neville and we’re 100% for it, not just from our business point of view but from a Tasman district point of view,” Stuff reported.
“It’s a six hour ferry ride from Motueka to Whanganui and then six hours by truck from Whanganui to Auckland, well that’s 12 hours [overall] which is unheard of.”
As well as the commercial benefits, Westrupp said in the article that the link would offer a loop for visitors to connect directly with Tasman and the West Coast, which could have a huge positive impact on tourism.
“From who I’ve talked to when I’ve travelled overseas, a lot of them say they’ve been to New Zealand but not many of them have come to Tasman – they’d just done a road trip from Auckland to Queenstown and gone down the East Coast.”
Motueka is close to the Abel Tasman and Kahurangi National Parks, and popular visitor spots Kaiteriteri Beach and Golden Bay.
Newly-elected Tasman district councillor David Ogilvie said he was first made aware of the ferry proposal when Johnson spoke at a Motueka Community Board meeting several months ago, reported Stuff.
He said he saw the idea as a positive addition to the town and Tasman region, as well as being financially viable.
The approach to Port Motueka involves a sandbar though that is subject to frequent change and therefore some work would be needed to allow larger vessels to enter.
Johnson had previously indicated that Midwest ferries would provide the necessary infrastructure at both ends, including any dredging and land reclamation required, reported Stuff.
Ogilvie said in the article that while this aspect demanded careful environmental consideration, initial discussions indicated Johnson had given appropriate consideration to such matters.
“It is one of the issues he would have to deal with, because if you go back to the mid-1990s the Motueka port always had that issue of the bar silting up from the Motueka River.
“When those issues were raised he didn’t think it was a major – it was all very positive and the community board accepted it as a possibility.”
The ferry link would bring an increase of passenger and heavy transport vehicles to the region. The New Zealand Transport Agency is confident it can deal with the extra demands on SH6 and SH60 if the ferry goes ahead.
“The NZTA has a well-defined and robust process for investment and any potential increase in traffic volumes would be considered as part of this process,” a spokesperson concluded in the article.
