Options for Auckland’s long term plan revealed

It projected that Auckland’s long-term future freight and cruise needs and assessed what could be required in 50 years to accommodate it.

“Auckland is on a steep growth trajectory. With an expected population of at least 2.6m and potentially quadrupling of freight trade in the next 50 years, Auckland will need a strategy to ensure freight can flow for continued trade and prosperity,” said independent chair of the study’s CWG, Dr Rick Boven

He added: “The study’s consultants have identified three options that could meet Auckland’s future long-term freight and cruise needs, subject to further assessment.”

The shortlisted options, representing the next step in the consultant’s ongoing technical analysis included; constraining Auckland’s port to its current footprint, or enabling growth of Auckland’s port at its current location.

Option three is to continue with the current site in the short-to-mid-term but in the mid-to-long term move the port to a new location.

There are three primary location areas for further investigation emerging; Manukau Harbour area, Firth of Thames area (within the Auckland region) and the Muriwai area.

“Our important next steps are to get feedback from the study’s larger Reference Group, complete the cost benefit analysis of remaining options and test the assumptions of that analysis by peer review,” added Dr Boven.

He explained: “Once we complete further analysis on the shortlist of options we will have a clearer picture of how each option stacks up on costs and wider economic effects. Some options are likely to be cost prohibitive.”

A wide range of interest groups and mana whenua members are involved with the independent study to consider the economic, social, environmental and cultural costs and benefits.

The study will be completed by the end of June.