Ports of Auckland Releases Master Plan
Ports of Auckland in New Zealand has released its Draft 30-year Master Plan to advance the port whilst undertaking a project to find a new location.
The plan includes the automation of the container terminal, completion of a deep-water terminal berth and installation of three new cranes. This work, along with other projects outlined in the plan, will provide the port with additional capacity to serve a population of up to five million – three times the number of people living in Auckland today.
Chief Executive Tony Gibson says “Shifting a port takes time. Finding the best location, getting consent, securing funding and undertaking construction will take decades. In the meantime, we need to ensure that we can continue to deliver freight for our import and export customers, and to Aucklanders.”
The port is facing significant capacity issues on its general cargo wharves, and the plan includes increasing berth space. “We are proposing to build a new wharf running east-west along the north end of Bledisloe Terminal, in line with the recommendations of Auckland Council’s Port Future Study,” says Gibson. It will be a piled structure in line with the port's commitment to no further reclamation, but it will reach an extra 13 meters (43 feet) north into the harbor.
The plan also calls for the removal of Marsden Wharf and part of a wharf known as B1. This will bring three redundant wharves back into use and create nearly a kilometer of new general cargo berth space.
The plan also includes the development of a five-storey car handling building which will provide more capacity, hide cars from view and free up space on Captain Cook Wharf. On top of this building will be a new waterfront park.