Two Ports of Auckland wharves which are used for imported new and used trucks, light commercials, cars, as well as heavy plant, equipment, and machinery are under threat from a council group that wants one demolished and the other to be extended for cruise liners says a report commissioned by Auckland Council.
The Port Study final report written by New Zealand Institute of Economic Research specialist Nick Allison says a council group has proposed that Captain Cook wharf be extended, and Marsden Wharf be demolished to accommodate the growing number of cruise ships entering Auckland harbour.
Currently both Captain Cook wharf and Marsden wharf are multi-cargo wharves which are primarily used by large car carrying ships which deliver both new and second hand imported cars, pick ups, trucks, camper vans, light commercial vehicles, farming equipment as well as construction and logging heavy equipment and machinery.
The key finding of the report is that the port needs to find more multi-cargo space to grow to accommodate this freight or lose business to competing ports.
Most of New Zealand’s vehicle import come through the Ports of Auckland, and these imports create around 3500 jobs in vehicle wholesaling and distribution businesses which are concentrated within the South Auckland region.
All of the Ports of Auckland wharves which are used for non-containerised freight will become more constrained over the next five to ten years says NZIER.
The multi-cargo wharves such as Marsden, Captain Cook, Bledisloe, Freyberg west, and Jellicoe wharves are also used to land non-container cargo such as building materials, fruit and vegetables, and wheat as well as the vehicles says the report.
If the port company loses the use of Captain Cook wharf – immediate action by way of reclamation or some other means of adding space would be required to manage the present volumes of multiple cargoes.
The council group has suggested a reclamation at the end of Bledisloe wharf could potentially replace lost cargo wharf capacity.
The report says that the Fergusson container terminal can grow on its current footprint for another 20 years before it needs more wharf space.
