Kaiwharawhara proposed as preferred site for multi-user terminal for Cook Strait Ferries

Friday, 16 August 2019

A proposed multi-user ferry terminal for Wellington could mean a more resilient and reliable home for the Cook Strait ferries.

Kaiwharawhara is being considered as the preferred site for a new multi-user ferry terminal in Wellington.

It could mean a more resilient and reliable home for the Cook Strait ferries.

Wellington City Council's Chief City Planner David Chick said Wellington was expecting more visitors and the potential site was a smart choice.

'As a harbour city, marine infrastructure is a crucial part of our economic growth and resilience.'

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Wellington has a projected 30-year population growth of 50,000-80,000 over the next 30 years.

The recommendation to further investigate Kaiwharawhara was made in a programme business case by project partners CentrePort, NZTA, KiwiRail, StraitNZ Bluebridge, Greater Wellington Regional Council and Wellington City Council.

The regional council will consider the recommendation at its council meeting on August 21, and Wellington City Council at its meeting on September 5.

Eight potential sites were considered against stringent criteria.

Kaiwharawhara and King's Wharf made the shortlist, but Kaiwharawhara will now undergo further structural and resilience engineering feasibility studies.

Greater Wellington economic development portfolio lead councillor Roger Blakeley said Kaiwharawhara ticked many of the boxes so far.

'But we have a long way to go before we can make a decision.'

CentrePort general manager ferries and bulk Andrew Steele said progress was being made in developing the terminal.

'We are working with our partners to ensure delivery of an improved experience for travellers and tourists.

'We are also focused on ensuring the project outcome fits within the Wellington urban environment and delivers transport and logistics supply chain connectivity to benefit the regional and national economy.'

The next steps will be to commission further structural and resilience engineering feasibility studies to underpin decisions on investment in the site.

Strengthening, seismic design of terminals and wharves to keep them open and functioning in a major event, and new transport links to the rail network and Hutt Road were all being considered.

The project partners will also consider programme governance and structure for ongoing phases of the project.

'We have a long way to go but this is the beginning of a very exciting journey,' Blakeley said.

'From its completion in 2028 we expect the new terminal to deliver significant benefits to the region through generating jobs, increasing passenger and freight throughput and injecting hundreds of millions annually into the regional economy.'