Ports of Auckland will open a third intermodal freight hub in Mount Maunganui as part of a network strategy to maintain its position as NZ’s leading port by volume and productivity.
It has partnered with land owner Triton Pacific and Toll New Zealand to building the remaining infrastructure needed at the site.
Toll New Zealand will operate the 1.4-hectare freight hub in Triton Avenue for the Port of Auckland company, and there is an option to develop further capacity if needed.
The land is adjacent to a rail siding, and it will be developed to include a rail connection, container handling facilities, and other logistics services.
It is expected to be operating by the end of 2015.
Ports of Auckland says competition in the region is a good thing.
“Bay of Plenty exporters now will have a choice of ports through which they can export their goods,” says Ports of Auckland chief executive Tony Gibson.
“Our Bay of Plenty freight hub will help make New Zealand exporters more competitive by making access to global markets more efficient and easy,” says Gibson.
“Our network of intermodal freight hubs at Wiri, Longburn, and now Mount Maunganui offers regional exporters a seamless service to overseas markets via Ports of Auckland,” he says.
“It enables us to reduce empty container movements and better balance the volume of exported goods with imported goods through our Port which is good for parties concerned,” says Gibson.
