Ports of Auckland is proceeding with two huge wharf extensions, despite public protests, a political call to halt work and a legal challenge against consents for the work.Ports chairman Graeme Hawkins yesterday told the Herald work had started on the main contract and there were no plans to stop.
Two large Fletcher cranes, pile casings and worker huts are in place on Bledisloe Wharf, where the port company plans to build two wharf extensions about 100m into the Waitemata Harbour.Some bigger gear was due on site in the next two to three days, Mr Hawkins said.A Fletcher Building subsidiary, Brian Perry Civil, has a $22 million contract to build the extensions. Fletcher’s would not comment yesterday.
Last night Mayor Len Brown was taking a relaxed approach to the work at the port, saying a council request to halt work was still under consideration.
“Until a decision is made, we understand that some work will continue in line with contracts that the port company has in place with construction companies,” said Mr Brown.Mr Hawkins said work was proceeding while the company sought clarification on a couple of issues in a letter from Auckland Council Investments Ltd (ACIL).
The council has written to ACIL, who in turn has passed on the message to the ports to halt works on the wharf extensions until a wide-ranging study of the port is done.”Our obligations under the Companies Act are a different set of obligations they [ACIL] have got and there is quite a debate in terms of how those obligations fall on us,” Mr Hawkins said.
Under every scenario conceivable, the port company would need the wharf extensions to handle bigger ships, he said. Otherwise ships would not come to Auckland and the city’s economic recovery would be choked.”The dilemma for us as directors is it is quite clear where our obligations are, despite the request from the shareholder,” Mr Hawkins said.
The port company has consent for the extensions and there are no legal barriers at present to stop work.The lawfulness of the consents is being challenged in the High Court in Auckland on June 2 by Urban Auckland, a society of architectural and planning professionals.
