“Ports
of Auckland is negotiating with Panuku Development Auckland to sell the Port of
Onehunga and make it available for public use”, chief executive Tony Gibson said
today.
“This
has come about because Manukau Harbour is too shallow for modern shipping,
making the port at Onehunga unsuitable for freight operations. Over the past
few years we have been consolidating Onehunga operations at our main port on the
Waitematā Harbour.
The
construction of a new cement import facility at the Waitematā port, to be
completed in 2016, is the final phase in the move of freight operations from
Onehunga. This enables us to make our land at the Port of Onehunga available to
Aucklanders, just as Princes Wharf, Queens Wharf, the Viaduct Harbour and
Wynyard Quarter have been opened up for public use and enjoyment.”
“By
improving our efficiency we have been able to consolidate our operations, halve
our land footprint and still continue to serve Auckland and New Zealand’s
growing freight needs. This has enabled large areas of the Waitematā waterfront
to be opened up for public use and we are delighted to be able to do the same
for Onehunga and the Manukau.”
“Ports
of Auckland is New Zealand’s first, busiest and most efficient container port,
as well as a vital tourism hub. We are keeping up with the international trend
toward larger ships and we are evolving to meet Auckland’s growing freight
demands while taking up less space,” added Mr Gibson.
John
Dalzell, Chief Executive of Panuku Development Auckland said “Onehunga town
centre and its surrounds is identified as a key location where we will
facilitate long-term residential and/or commercial developments that deliver on
one of the objectives of the Auckland Plan - to radically improve the quality of
urban living.
Within
that, transforming the Onehunga port site to facilitate more public uses is seen
as the key to unlocking the economic, recreation, tourism and transportation
potential of the Manukau Harbour.
On
that basis Panuku Development Auckland is considering the acquisition of the
site.
Technical and environmental due diligence on the site has
been completed and we hope to enter into a conditional agreement for the site in
the coming months.
Should
that happen we will be committed to achieving a high standard of urban amenity
and public access across the site and along the coastal edge.
Panuku
appreciates the importance of the site to the local community and once an
agreement is finalised it will undertake a comprehensive master planning
exercise that will include the local board and key stakeholders.”
ENDS
NOTES
· Holcim New
Zealand currently operate a cement handling facility at Onehunga. From mid-2016
Holcim ships will no longer call at Onehunga, but Holcim will continue to
operate a cement bagging facility at the site.
·
Onehunga is
also used by the fishing industry, which will continue
unchanged.
Ports of Auckland Ltd has been playing a vital role in the Auckland economy for 175 years, delivering things Aucklanders and New Zealand need and enjoy. It is part of the special character of Auckland.
It is New Zealand's biggest import port and the largest and most efficient container port, handling nearly 1 million containers a year.
In the 2014/15 financial year Ports of Auckland also handled 5.9m tonnes of non-containerised cargo, including 243,801 cars.
As New Zealand's premier cruise port, we handle around 100 cruise ships annually and each ship visit is worth about $1.5m to the local economy.
The Port also helps New Zealand exporters deliver their products to the world. We have a network of freight hubs across the North Island which provides exporters with choice and supply chain efficiency. The Ports of Auckland freight hubs are in South Auckland, Bay of Plenty and the Manawatu.
Ports of Auckland is 100%-owned by Auckland Council Investments Ltd and serves Auckland's growth. Our dividends are used for the benefit of Auckland ratepayers.
In the 2014/15 financial year our declared dividend to the city was $41.7 million. This amounts to $88 per household, which is the equivalent of 3.75% of the average Auckland residential rates bill.
For further information contact:
Matt Ball
Head of Communications
P: +649 348 5262
M: +6421 495 645
E: [email protected]
Alexandra Ropati
Senior Communications Advisor
P: +649 348 5247
M: +6427 809 2285
E: [email protected]