Wayne Brown rejects Phil Goff's fears on moving Auckland's port
Wednesday, 28 November 2018
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff's fears about the port's possible relocation to Northland have been dismissed as a 'storm in a teacup'.
Goff said comments by Wayne Brown had suggested the outcome of a review into the port could be pre-determined, even before the group has its first meeting with Auckland Council.
Brown, the chair of the Government group reviewing the future of three major North Island ports, said Goff's concerns were a 'storm in a teacup'.
The public disagreement highlights tension over the future of Auckland's council-owned port company, which the Government-appointed reviewers will consider moving, with Northland being a possibility.
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Auckland councillors have endorsed a letter drafted by Goff, laying down how the city expected the review group to conduct its work.
Goff sounded the alarm at a Planning Committee meeting on Tuesday, after what he called a robust exchange with Brown the previous Friday.
Brown, a former Far North Mayor, had met with the Upper North Island Strategic Alliance, a grouping of seven councils, to discuss the early stages of the Government working party's review.
Goff emerged anxious that Brown had a pre-determined view on moving Auckland's port, and that the review group didn't have the time or resources to do the job thoroughly.
'I'm not quite sure why the mayor of Auckland felt the way he did,' Brown told Stuff.
'He had a different view to everyone else in the room - no one else accused me of not having enough resources or pre-determining things,' said Brown.
'Rushing off and spending a whole lot of taxpayers' money the way some councils spend ratepayers' money is not wise - when we need it we'll get it.'
A five-member working group was appointed in September, following conflicting views by Auckland Council, and the New Zealand First party, which became part of the coalition government a year ago.
The council's Port Future Study in 2016 found the downtown port could outgrow its current location in 50 years, and short-listed Manukau Harbour and the Firth of Thames as options warranting further study.
New Zealand First had campaigned on moving the vehicle trade from Auckland to Northport within two years, with the rest of the port to follow.
The coalition government took a wider view, calling for a study of the three upper North Island ports, as well as transport and other needs, with Northland as a focus if Auckland's port needed moving.
The Goff-penned letter said it was concerning that the group's chair had dismissed the Manukau and Firth of Thames options.
Brown rejected that.
'In fact we spoke to the marine insurance people and they said they wouldn't insure ships coming over the (Manukau) bar so you've got the listen to that,' Brown told Stuff.
'Then Firth of Thames might be a long way out in front - we haven't ruled it out at all.'
Brown said he offered unspecified 'impressions' to the mayors at the Friday meeting, seeking responses.
He said the group hoped to have completed its first round of consultations, and prepared a preliminary report, early next year, at which point decisions would be needed on more detailed work.
'There's no rush here, this is important to get right. His thoughts about pre-determination? He's a politician and I'm not,' Brown said.
The working party was due to meet an Auckland Council delegation on December 13.
The council planned to send a letter signed by Goff, underlining that Ports of Auckland is owned by the people of Auckland, and in the last year paid the council a $51.1 million dividend.
Goff personally favoured eventually moving the port away from the city waterfront, but only after detailed study of alternatives by the Government, including the roles of the other major ports at Mount Maunganui and Marsden Point.