Month: April 2015

New Mega Cruise Ship Destined For Auckland

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And no the Port irony is not lost on me either

From NZ Herald

Billion dollar mega-ship sets sail for NZ waters

10:25 AM Wednesday Apr 15, 2015  Grant Bradley

The Ovation of the Seas is part of a new breed of mega-cruise ship. Currently being built in Germany, its sister ship the Quantum of the Seas is shown here.
The Ovation of the Seas is part of a new breed of mega-cruise ship. Currently being built in Germany, its sister ship the Quantum of the Seas is shown here. Source: NZ Herald
One of the new generation of billion dollar plus mega cruise ships is heading for New Zealand.

Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas will cruise in New Zealand and Australian waters next year and will be the biggest cruise ship to ever visit.

Its arrival is a coup for the fast-growing cruise industry in this country – one of the most rapidly expanding in the world – and the tourism sector which has targeted the industry as a source of high numbers of increasingly wealthy visitors.

Ovation is still being built at a shipyard in Germany and when finished will be 348m long and 168,666 gross registered tonnes.

The biggest cruise ship to enter New Zealand so far is the Queen Mary 2 at 148,528 gross tonnes and 345m in length. Another Royal Caribbean ship, Voyager of the Seas regularly calls here and is 311m and 137,276 tonnes although has to date been the biggest by the number of passengers.

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Full article: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11432993

Good to see that the 348 metre long mega ship is coming to visit Auckland next year. That said the irony has not been lost on me either that the ship will technically only be able to fit on Bledisole or Wnyard Wharf (see below).

Berths along water front including length
Berths along water front including length

For the ship to fit on Bledisole without the wharf extensions the Marsden Wharf would need to go which is touted in the Central Wharves Strategy. Fail that Bledisole would need to be extended. The other option which is a more long term option is for the Waterfront Auckland owned Wynyard Wharf to be converted from a liquid bulk terminal as current to a passenger terminal. Now with the tank farm on Wynyard Point going within the next 15 years utilising a converted Wynyard Wharf would be ideal.

Why?

  • Passengers disembark into a high end retail, commercial, residential, hotel, hospitality area that is more dispersed than the Quay Street area
  • Public transport links as buses, light rail and eventually the North Shore Line come on stream
  • Takes 5,000 passengers and supporting buses or trucks (for supplies) away from the busy Quay Street which handles people, traffic and freight
  • No blocking those views from Queens Wharf if the ship was docked at Bledisole

So yes the irony of this big mega ship has not been lost on me in the port debate at all.

Committees This Week

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What is going on with Auckland Council This Week

A Committee of the Whole and two Sub-Committees are meeting this week to discuss some important issues about Auckland and/or the Council Controlled Organisations (CCO’s).

Auckland Development Committee

Agenda: http://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2015/04/AUC_20150416_AGN_5975_AT_WEB.HTM

Nothing too heavy on the agenda for the Auckland Development Committee this time around. The usual City Centre Integration Group update is being presented and no doubt both the City Rail Link start and updates on Precinct Properties downtown development will come up for debate. The Central Wharves Strategy is still being refined and any updates on that should be presented as well on Thursday

Unitary Plan Sub Committee

Agenda: no point as it is all in closed session.

That said the sub committee being in closed session is still an important one to watch especially if you have submitted to the Unitary Plan. The Unitary Plan Committee decides what position the Council will take into mediation for the Unitary Plan Hearings. The three topics up for mediation decision are:

  • Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan submissions – council position for mediation and hearings – Outstanding Natural Features, Outstanding Natural Landscapes and Outstanding and High Natural Character Areas, Volcanic Viewshafts and Height Sensitive Areas                                                                                                                           
  • Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan submissions – council position for mediation and hearings – Transport                                                                                                 
  • Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan submissions – council position for mediation and hearings – Healthcare Facility Zone               

The Transport topic is the one I am most interested in as it is one of six topics I submitted on to the Unitary Plan. Parking and Parking Minimums which should be nice and controversial but hey, I want a 21st Century Auckland not a 1960’s Auckland. Mediation for Transport (and parking) is next month with the Hearings on the matter in July.

CCO Governance and Monitoring Committee

Agenda: http://infocouncil.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Open/2015/04/COU_20150414_AGN_5941_AT_WEB.HTM

This Committee this month is big one as the CCO’s are both reporting performance AND giving their next three yearly Statement of Intents (SOI). This is the only Committee that can “compel” a CCO (within legislation) to do something on behalf of the Governing Body. Note: Port of Auckland is not a CCO it is a full commercial company overseen by Auckland Council Investments Limited (ACIL).

No doubt Port of Auckland will come up today via discussing ACIL although with the Future Port Study being prepared I would think it was a good idea to hold fire as it were until CEO Stephen Town presents the scope of the study in due course.

I will not be at any of the Committees this week so no live Tweeting folks.