Port also to embark on PR Campaign for Extensions

It has finally happened but took a while to get there. This morning it has been heard that pressure group Urban Auckland is to file papers in the High Court seeking a review on the consent granted to Ports of Auckland for the Bledisole Wharf extensions.\

From Radio NZ:

Ports of Auckland has said the work will start next month.

Urban Auckland says resource consents for the Bledisloe Wharf extensions were granted unlafully.

Chairperson Julie Stout says Ports of Auckland should stop work that relies on the resource consents.

Ms Stout said the group believed it was in the public interest that the decisions and processes are scrutinised in the High Court.

A public protest against that the plan, and possible future reclamation of the harbour, drew around 800 people on Sunday.

The imminent wharf extensions of nearly 100 metres took Auckland councillors by surprise last month, during debate over the port’s longer term future.

Ports of Auckland says it did not think it needed to publicly flag that it was seeking consent from the work, as it was part of a long-term development already known by its council owner.

Chief executive Tony Gibson did not consider that to have been a mistake.

“We run on a commercial basis under the Port Companies Act. I think what we should have done was make sure the public was very much aware why we need to do it, and the implications of not doing it.”

Mr Gibson said an information campaign would begin this weekend.

“The reality is if we don’t move ahead with the extension, you won’t see the cruise liner Queen Mary here, because that can no longer go on Jellicoe Wharf, that’ll be used by cement ships,” said Mr Gibson.

“So we have a burning issue and if that’s not solved, we will have to turn away cruise ships in the 2016 cruise season.”

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Also an audio clip from Radio NZ with POAL CEO Tony Gibson indicating a campaign to start tomorrow on the benefits of the wharf extensions:

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Source: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/269707/group-to-seek-legal-review-of-port-expansion

There is no indication yet that the papers filed by Urban Auckland to the Court will be accepted as I believe the bar to trigger a review is quite high. However, if the review is to proceed then it will have no qualms for me as I would like to see what went wrong and how to avoid it again (if the Court believes something went wrong in the first place).

Also here is a picture on possible locations to berth the cruise ships along with how much berth is available. Remembering the larger ships like the Queen Mary will be wanting around 320 metres of berthing for safe docking.

I have a couple of appearances on various media outlets talking about the Port issue. I will let you know when they are due to either screen or show up on Twitter.