Ports of Auckland told to front up over wharf demolition
Auckland Mayor Len Brown is angry that he was not informed.
Ports of Auckland says it has nothing to say about Mayor Len Brown’s anger at the company’s start on demolishing part of Marsden Wharf without telling the council.
Mr Brown will be meeting with ports management in the next few days to hear the company’s reasons for failing to tell councillors of the work before last week’s discussions on a central wharves strategy, in which one option is to remove Marsden Wharf.
Under the central wharves strategy, Marsden Wharf is to be demolished, Captain Cook wharf extended to take longer cruise ships and as part of the trade-off for taking part of the port's operations area it will be able to reclaim 3ha of harbour at the end of Bledisloe Wharf.
The company told the council about the demolition on Tuesday and publicly announced the plans yesterday.
Although demolition consent was given to Ports of Auckland in 2012, Mr Brown says it doesn’t excuse its failure to mention work was starting next week to its owner, Auckland Council Investments, political governors or the wider public.
The ports company says it is only demolishing the northern section of Marsden Wharf because it is old and at the end of its useful life.
It has not been used by cargo ships for many years and has only been operated as a temporary area to hold imported cars. The ports says it is now not suitable even for that.
Work to remove the concrete deck will begin next week. Piles will be left in place until Ports of Auckland can deepen the shipping basin in the area. Resource consent for that work will be launched within the next five years.
The company says it is part of the port’s long term plan to improve port layout and efficiency and keep reclamation needs to a minimum.
After announcing Auckland Ports is being put on the spot, Mr Brown says the council will be assessing the disclosure protocols in greater detail at the next council controlled organisations monitoring committee meeting.
slindsay@nbr.co.nz
Sally Lindsay
Thu, 19 Feb 2015
Thu, 19 Feb 2015
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Ports of Auckland told to front up over wharf demolition
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