Studies released on Whanganui Port
Published on 13 June 2017
13 June 2017
Studies released on Whanganui Port
A feasibility study presented to Whanganui District Council by Walbran Transport Analysis and Sofos on behalf of Midwest Ferries about a potential ferry service from Whanganui to Motueka in the South Island has been peer reviewed.
Murray King and Francis Small Consultancy and Ian Wallis Associates undertook the peer review which identified that more information is required from an economic, logistic and transportation perspective. The report was commissioned by the Port Revitalisation Team.
Whanganui District Council has also commissioned two further reports which address the port from an operational and environmental perspective, taking into account Whanganui’s unique west coast location and exploring use of the port by large vessels.
Mayor Hamish McDouall says the reports will be useful for Midwest Ferries and any other freight or marine industry operators who may want to operate from the port in the future.
He says because the Midwest Ferries feasibility report did not address technical and environment matters in enough detail, its ferry proposal won't be included in the Port Revitalisation business case to be presented to the Government in June 2017.
“However, this does not prevent a ferry service from operating in the future, if it meets the requirements to operate within the particular physical make up of our river port, is economically viable and practically feasible.
“We have commissioned these reports to help the Council and the community to understand the feasibility and impacts of a potential service for a large ship operation from the Whanganui Port.”
The Council and the Port Revitalisation Group will continue their stakeholder engagement with a public meeting and community update held in the next few months on the wider port programme and masterplan.
The marine, recreation and freight and logistics Port Revitalisation Reference Groups have been updated on the port masterplan, which is almost complete and will be released publicly over the next several weeks.
Tasman District Council will make its decision about the viability of a feasibility study for a ferry service at the Motueka Port at its Council meeting on June 22.
The three reports, along with Midwest Ferries’ feasibility study, can be found on www.whanganui.govt.nz/port