Forklift News - Potential to sell Queens Wharf

Queens Wharf may be sold

Ports of Auckland says it could potentially sell Queens Wharf with sufficient notice and an appropriate sale price. This would allow the company to reconfigure and reinvest in alternative facilities for shipping lines that currently use the wharf.

Ports managing director Jens Madsen explains: "This could be a win-win for all. The port company generates funding to reinvest in its core operations to the east and the public gains further access to the waterfront."

The company has long had a strategy to consolidate its port operations to the east of the Waitemata waterfront, freeing up land and wharves for public use over time when they are no longer needed for port operations. Since 1996 over 70 hectares of land and wharf space has been sold or leased for non-port uses. The latest release was 18 hectares on the Tank Farm.

"For a sale of Queens Wharf to happen, the Port would need to accommodate and service the shipping lines that currently use the wharf elsewhere in the port. This will require substitute facilities including further reclamation and berth construction over time. And this has to occur without compromising the ongoing cargo operations of those wharf users.

"We have also investigated whether an earlier sale - within two years - of Queens Wharf is possible. This could be achieved by implementing alternative interim measures for the shipping lines. It would be in addition to the construction of a permanent, long term solution.

"Any release of Queens Wharf would need to be by way of sale or lease, for an amount that covers the cost of alternative facilities for current Queens Wharf users. Any interim measure would involve additional cost and therefore an additional sale price," says Madsen.

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