Survey proves Aucklanders back wharf protests

A survey conducted on behalf of wharf protest group Stop Stealing Our Harbour reveals Aucklanders are right behind the group’s aims.

Of the more than 500 Aucklanders interviewed in the on-line survey*, 52 per cent oppose Ports of Auckland’s plans to extend Bledisloe Wharf.

Conversely, only a quarter support the plans to extend the wharf 100 metres in to the Waitemata Harbour. The remainder don’t have an opinion one way or another.

In addition, seven out of 10 respondents agreed the port company should be required to ask Aucklanders what they think about the extensions before starting work.

The survey was conducted by Buzz Channel in early May after Auckland Council came to a compromise decision to allow the port company to build one of two new fingers to extend Bledisloe Wharf.

Stop Stealing Our Harbour spokesperson Michael Goldwater says the survey absolutely demonstrates the port company does not have the support of Aucklanders for its wharf extension plans.

“Ports of Auckland has ridden roughshod over the wishes of Aucklanders who have clearly made their opinions known not only by double protests but also through this survey. The council too has turned a blind eye to the wishes of its ratepayers.

“The council must tell the port company to immediately stop work on the extensions. That action is even more appropriate given recent media revelations that Ports of Auckland is not content with its latest gains.”

The NZ Herald reported on 9 May that the port company wants to extend its reach in to the Waitemata Harbour far beyond the 100m granted as part of the council’s compromise.

Other results from the survey:

Nine out of 10 Aucklanders think the Auckland CBD waterfront area is important to the people of Auckland.

Only 14 per cent say they are not interested in the Bledisloe Wharf extensions.

49 per cent of those surveyed believe the port should move or there should be no further extension of the port, with any additional sea freight handled elsewhere. 11 per cent believe the port should be scaled back.

*An online survey of 503 Aucklanders was undertaken between 1 and 8 May 2015 by Buzz Channel, using the buzzthepeople panel. The maximum margin of error on a sample size of 503 is ±4.4%.

ends

© Scoop Media