Ports of Auckland chairman Graeme Hawkins has announced the company is proceeding with two massive wharf extensions into the Waitemata Harbour. The decision to continue work comes despite public protests and a political call by Auckland Council to halt work until a wide-ranging port study is done.
The port company has resource consent for the work and there are no legal barriers to prevent it.Following a board meeting today Mr Hawkins said there had been a hold up with some gear but work was proceeding on the extensions to Bledisloe Wharf.
Mr Hawkins said some of the bigger gear should be on site in two-to-three days.Two Fletcher cranes, pile casing and worker huts have moved onto the site in the past day.Mr Hawkins said moving the gear onto the site was part of enabling works.
Asked when the company would start the main contract, he said: “We have started. The enabling works is part of it.”There is no change. We are carrying on, but we have asked management to give us some clarification on a couple of issues.”
He said the company would also talk to the council body, Auckland Council Investments Ltd, to get some clarification as well.The council has written to ACIL, who is turn have passed on the message to the ports to halt works on the wharf extensions until a wide-ranging study of the port is done.Brian Perry Civil, a subsidiary of Fletcher Building, has a $22 million contract to built the extensions.
Mr Hawkins said the company had no plans to stop the wharf extensions at this stage, but will be having discussions with ACIL in due course.
