Picton ferry terminal upgrade to be fast-tracked

Monday, 15 June 2020

An upgrade to Picton's ferry terminal will be fast tracked, under a new law to be introduced this week.

Picton's Ferry Terminal upgrade is one of the 11 projects to be fast -tracked under a new law to be introduced to Parliament this week.

The Government says the project will improve rail services by expanding the docks and upgrading the passenger terminal. It is expected to create up to 200 jobs.

KiwiRail said the design of the new terminal took into account 100 years of projected sea level rise.

Port Marlborough and KiwiRail have been approached for comment.

* 'Too early' to pick fast-tracked projects, like ferry terminal upgrade

* Picton awaits 'vast' project with upgraded ferry terminal

A design of proposed changes to Picton's port released earlier by KiwiRail.

Environment Minister David Parker said the new law would fast track infrastructure projects through the consenting process to help the economy recover post Covid-19. The bill would only be temporary and ould repeal itself after two years.

“Job rich infrastructure and development projects of different sizes and in different locations around New Zealand will be prioritised,' Parker said on Monday.

KiwiRail, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA), Port Marlborough, and the Marlborough District Council last year began the process of replacing three old ferries with two larger ships, starting with community consultation.

KiwiRail said several changes were proposed to accommodate the two new ferries, set to be on the water by 2024, which can carry trains across the Cook Strait. The idea was to save rail cargo from needing to be unloaded then reloaded between islands, it said last year.

A new Interislander building, would offer ferry and rail passengers views over the Marlborough Sounds and 'state-of-the-art check in'.

A new 280-metre wharf would also be installed, vehicle areas would be changed, and new jetties and seawalls would be put down.

Some residents in a Stuff story in May called the consultation period for the new terminal 'rushed' as a face-to-face meeting was switched to online consultation due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Residents, in Picton and the Queen Charlotte Sound, called for an extension to the consultation.