Future Port Study Scope Being Written Up
From Auckland Council
Further council discussion on Ports of Auckland
Auckland Council’s CCO Governance and Monitoring Committee today discussed a report on the Ports of Auckland Limited’s governance framework.
The report was prepared and tabled following a request from councillors who wanted to better understand the levers council and Auckland Council Investments Limited (ACIL, the Ports’ shareholder) had available with respect to POAL.
It explained the statutory framework for governance of the port company, the powers council had in relation to ACIL and what considerations applied for those powers to be exercised.
The council had three main formal governance levers, the report said – board appointments, the Statement of Corporate Intent between ACIL and POAL and management reviews and shareholder resolutions.
Today’s discussion followed a number of other steps already taken by Auckland Council:
- CEO Stephen Town has written to ACIL about the council’s expectations
- The Auckland Development Committee has advised the mayor, chief executive and ACIL to continue to do everything within their powers to encourage Ports of Auckland not to proceed with extensions to Bledisloe Wharf until the Port Future Study was complete
- ACIL has written to the POAL board.
——ends—–
Also from Bernard Orsman
Ports of Auckland: City councillors defend port company
5:00 AM Wednesday Apr 15, 2015 – Bernard Orsman
Several councillors have leapt to the defence of Ports of Auckland, the council-owned company facing public and political pressure to halt work on two new wharf extensions into the Waitemata Harbour.
Councillors George Wood, Calum Penrose and Linda Cooper yesterday praised the company’s performance during a discussion on the council’s powers in relation to the port.
Mr Wood, who has supported halting work on the wharf extensions until a wider study of the ports is done, said the port company had made a remarkable turnaround in productivity and financial returns, which he said had risen from 3 per cent to 11.5 per cent, or $66 million in the latest financial year.
………
Mr Penrose said the port was taking the region forward immensely and the council needed to be working side-by-side with the company.
But councillor Chris Darby, who has led the fight on the council against the wharf extensions and further harbour reclamation for port use, said while the port had succeeded financially it had a long way to go in terms of its social and environmental objectives.
…….
Full article: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11432704
As the debate continues and as we get closer to the start of the Port Future Study I have noticed that points put forward are more balanced as the chaff is sorted out. That is the considerations of economics, social and physical environment concerns, and all aspects planning being weighed up in equal measure.
As a recap you can watch both interviews I have done on the Port situation and the Future Port Study.
Part One – Thoughts on the entire situation
Part Two – The Future Port Study
Talking Southern Auckland 