As Auckland grows, demand for freight also grows. More freight means bigger ships as shipping lines try to keep costs low. All this freight needs to come through a port which won't increase in size, as we've made a committment to Aucklanders to end reclamation. So how do we handle more freight without making the port bigger?
We used the recommendations of the 2016 Port Future Study as the starting point for capacity improvements. We used public surveys and focus groups to help us clarify public aspirations. We talked to shipping lines for information on trends in ship design and size, plus studies into cargo trends to help quantify the scale of what was needed. All of this information and more was used to develop a 30-year Master Plan, released in November 2017 for public comment.
The Plan was well received and in May 2018, Auckland Council endorsed its general direction. We have now started to deliver it. To learn more about the plan, visit www.masterplan.poal.co.nz. You can also find information on master plan projects underway or being consented here.