“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
Alexandra Ropati
Senior Communications Advisor
P: +649 348 5247
M: +6427 809 2285
