AKL Mayor welcomes Upper North Island Supply Chain Report

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has welcomed the interim report on the Upper North Island Supply Chain Strategy.

“The report raises useful questions and issues. However, as a progress report only it does not present an analysis of options, the business case for each and the impact of each option on Auckland, the region and the country,” Phil Goff said.

“The relocation of the Port out of Auckland’s city centre has some clear advantages. It would ultimately open-up 77 hectres of central city and harbourside land and wharves for alternative and potentially more valuable uses.

“As in other international cities, it could enhance the attractiveness of Auckland as a place to live, work, enjoy and to visit. It would also reduce congestion caused by freight movement and pollution from associated activities.

“However, a city of 1.7 million people, making up 35 per cent of New Zealand’s population, needs to have the most cost effective and efficient way of delivering goods and services to its people.

“Vital to the decision of moving Auckland’s port is the impact of each alternative location on Auckland consumers and businesses. We need to know whether and how much alternative port sites add to costs in Auckland.

“We also need to ensure that the working group on the supply chain strategy considers the value of the investment Aucklanders have made in their Port and the dividend return they get from it which in past years has been $50 million – equivalent to a 3 – 4% rate increase if that dividend is lost.

“I support the work being done by the working group, but as it acknowledges, the impacts of where and when the Port is moved are far reaching and must be grounded in robust evidence,” Phil Goff said.

ENDS

© Scoop Media