Marlborough Sounds As Transportation Route

14 September 2005

Marlborough Sounds As National Transportation Route

The Shipping Federation represents New Zealand shipowners and therefore has a keen interest in issues of national importance such as the link between the North and South islands.

Paul Nicholas says it is important that any issue surrounding this route is treated from a commonsense perspective.

Next week all parties will get to have their say in the Environment Court and that is the correct place for current issues to be settled.

However all transport operators should be concerned that one of the main routes between the North and South Island could have its carrying capacity reduced by a third. This is the long-term effect of this Variation 3 being proposed by the Marlborough District Council.

The Federation is looking to see that all the facts are tabled before the Court so that the Court can make its decision over and above all the “noise” that is being generated around this matter.

There has to be a balance between the environment and this Marlborough Sounds National Transportation route.

We are looking to the evidence that is to be presented by the experts at this hearing to ensure a fair balance is achieved.

The Federation cannot support wholesale damage to the environment but we have to work with the environment not only in the Sounds otherwise the shipping activity on which NZ is dependent will cease to operate.”

ENDS

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