WASHINGTON: Ports of Auckland in New Zealand will start construction on the Waikato Freight Hub, an inland port at Horotiu, north of Hamilton, with a new bridge connecting the existing road network to the Golden Triangle, New Zealand’s fastest growing region.
The Waikato Freight Hub project, expected to start early next year, aims to be complete the first freight handling facilities for late 2017 or early 2018. The construction of the bridge will connect the Waikato Freight Hub to New Zealand’s two largest ports, the lower North Island, and three of the country’s five largest cities. Waikato Freight Hub will be connected by rail to Ports of Auckland existing hubs at Wiri, South Auckland, Mount Maunganui and Longburn, Manawatu. It is expected to generate around 300 jobs directly and facilitate many thousands more by acting as an economic catalyst. Ports of Auckland has already had significant interest from cargo owners in using the site.
Ports of Auckland will work with Tainui and other community stakeholders to help ensure that local people benefit directly from the economic development taking place in their area. Fulton Hogan, an infrastructure and construction company, has been awarded the first stage of the contract to level the site. Other contracts will be made available such as the provision of solar power paired with an energy storage to provide 24/7 renewable energy to the site. Plans also include LED lighting and other energy efficient technology. Ports of Auckland have stated that by creating a network of freight hubs across the North Island and by partnering with Napier Port, it will be able to keep freight costs down and offer access to a wider range of shipping services to North Island exporters and importers.
The development plans will be welcomed by New Zealand’s importers and exporters, which are currently under pressure to keep cargo moving after the November 14 earthquake closed Wellington’s container terminal. It predicts that this “more efficient supply chain” will make its goods more competitive overseas and make imports cheaper, with jobs created for New Zealanders and lower costs for consumers.
The hub will be built with sustainability in mind and will include features that enhance the local environment. Over four hectares of the 33 hectare site will be planted with natives providing habitat for long-tailed bats, copper skink, morepork/ruru and bell bird/korimako. Improvements to a stream on site may benefit indigenous freshwater species such as koura, long-fin eel and smelt. Development in the sector may see future changes as John Key today resigned as New Zealand’s Prime Minister after eight years in a move that shocked the country.
