Centreport to Advance Plans for Bigger Ships

Centreport to Advance Plans for Bigger Ships

CentrePort is commencing consultation with iwi, stakeholders and interested parties before applying for resource consents to deepen two sections of the shipping channel in Wellington Harbour to accommodate bigger ships.

“Across the globe ships are getting bigger and we need to prepare for this” said CentrePort Chief Executive Blair O’Keeffe.

With a deeper shipping channel, CentrePort will be able to receive bigger ships carrying up to 8,000 containers each (instead of the current 4,500) and continue to support thousands of businesses and jobs across the central region of New Zealand.

The central New Zealand economy which covers the lower North Island and upper South Island represents 27% of national GDP and some 600,000 jobs.

“It is important this region maintains strong international connections to ensure it remains competitive and can grow. The consents will be designed to prepare the region for the future and would replace existing consents which need to be updated” Mr O’Keeffe said.

The proposed project aligns with CentrePort’s recent investment in modern port infrastructure and inland hub and rail services across central New Zealand. It also aligns with the government’s investment in road, rail and ferries to connect Wellington with the wider central New Zealand economy.

It would involve deepening two sections of the shipping channel, at the harbour entrance and berth, to accommodate ships with a draught of up to 14.5 metres. Currently, the shipping channel can accommodate ships with draughts of up to 11.5 metres.

This could require moving up to 8.6 million cubic metres of material from the harbour entrance to another location. A site at Fitzroy Bay is currently being investigated for the fill at a location 50 metres below the sea, and several kilometres out in the Cook Strait.

At the berth where limited deepening is required, it is proposed to relocate the fill to deeper parts of the port operational area.

As Wellington’s harbour is well suited to shipping the project is smaller than some other planned or consented projects at other ports. The deepening is estimated to take 10 to 20 weeks to complete and may be undertaken in phases. It would be fully funded by the port.

As well as consulting iwi and stakeholders, the company is investigating the effects of the project as part of its application for resource consents.

“CentrePort is committed to ensuring the environmental, social and cultural sustainability of Wellington harbour – a place that has connected us to the world for over 150 years,” Mr O’Keeffe said.

“We will be engaging with the community about the project over coming weeks, including at the Port Open Day on 14 February. Following a comprehensive consultation process we will lodge our consent application in mid-2015. At this stage we are considering requesting a referral via the Environmental Protection Authority to a Board of Inquiry for determination”.

For public enquiries visit:
Website www.centreportbigpicture.co.nz
Email bigpicture@centreport.co.nz

ENDS

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