Port Development Plan

In 2011, Ports of Auckland in conjunction with Waterfront Auckland released Port Development concept drawings– a long-term and high-level strategic view of how the Auckland seaport could develop.

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Ports of Auckland is a key part of New Zealand's supply chain and trading infrastructure. The Port handles 40% of New Zealand's total imports and 21% of New Zealand's total exports, by value. POAL is the dominant player in the New Zealand container market, holding 60% of the upper North Island market and 36% of the total New Zealand market.

By value, Ports of Auckland handles the greatest throughput of international trade of any New Zealand port facility: some $26.4 billion annually.

In 2011 POAL, in conjunction with Waterfront Auckland, produced updated port development concept plans for the Auckland seaport, for inclusion in the Draft Waterfront Plan. These concept drawings reflect the development of POAL’s thinking since the most recent Port Development Plan was produced in 2008, and show at a high level how the port might develop, in five year increments through to 2055 (although timing is subject to a number of variables including the rate of volume growth and the rate of availability of fill material for reclamation). POAL anticipates consulting on and preparing an updated Port Development Plan document in 2012.

The Draft Waterfront Plan recognises the strategic role the Port of Auckland plays in the economy of the city, and how the success of the Auckland region and New Zealand depends to some degree on its port’s ability to efficiently handle imports and exports.

POAL aims to strike a balance between operational needs and public interest in accessing waterfront land. The key focus is on providing the required capacity for future growth in container and break-bulk (non-containerised) cargo volumes in the eastern port while freeing up land in the centre and west of the CBD waterfront for public access.

POAL's throughput in 2010-11 was 894,383 TEU and this is expected to grow by 5% on an average every year.

POAL's throughput in 2010/11 was 894,383 TEU and this is expected to grow by 5% on an average every year.

In line with this strategy, POAL believes it will be able to sell Captain Cook wharf for public use and redevelopment in the future.

However, the release of Captain Cook wharf is dependent upon the future extension of Bledisloe wharf, for which resource consents have yet to be obtained, and on the construction of replacement storage facilities for customers who are currently serviced at this wharf. For planning purposes a ten year timeframe is considered realistic.

The extension and reclamation works suggested at Bledisloe wharf could be the ideal location for the disposal of the spoil generated from the Auckland Council’s and NZTA's other projects such as the cross-harbour tunnel and the CBD-Mt Eden rail tunnel loop.

In addition to reclamation works, technology plays an important role in the development of the Port. A phased approach to the introduction of newer technology such as Automated Stacking Cranes is proposed. The introduction of these cranes will serve to further intensify operations in the eastern port.

Click here to download the updated 2011 port development concept drawings

Read more about why a growing Auckland needs a growing port in the Port's submission on the Auckland Unleashed: The Auckland Plan Discussion Document.