Newsletter April 2015

CENTREPORT TO ADVANCE PLANS FOR BIGGER SHIPS

CentrePort is commencing consultation with iwi, stakeholders and interested parties before applying for resource consents to deepen two sections of the shipping channel in Wellington Harbour to accommodate bigger ships.

“Across the globe ships are getting bigger and we need to prepare for this” said CentrePort Chief Executive Blair
O‟Keeffe.

With a deeper shipping channel, CentrePort will be able to receive bigger ships carrying up to 8,000 containers each (instead of the current 4,500) and continue to support thousands of businesses and jobs across the central region of New Zealand.

The central New Zealand economy which covers the lower North Island and upper South Island represents 27% of national GDP and some 600,000 jobs.

“It is important this region maintains strong international connections to ensure it remains competitive and can grow. The consents will be designed to prepare the region for the future and would replace existing consents which need to be updated” Mr O‟Keeffe said.

The proposed project aligns with CentrePort‟s recent investment in modern port infrastructure and inland hub and rail services across central New Zealand. It also aligns with the government‟s investment in road, rail and ferries to connect Wellington with the wider central New Zealand economy.