Marsden Pt berths on hold over Foreshore Bill

1.00pm

Plans to construct up to two new berths at Marsden Pt will be put on hold until title issues surrounding the Foreshore and Seabed Bill are resolved, says Northland Port Corporation (NPC) chairman Mike Daniel.

The 50-year leases being talked of for the berths in the deep water port were "far, far too short", he said.

"No-one in their right mind would spend say $25 million on a new berth with the prospect of having to give it back to the government after 50 years," Mr Daniel said.

"It's infrastructure that the shareholders have paid for and which will last years and years longer than 50 years," he said.

"Why would you want to give it back after that length of time -- I don't think so."

Mr Daniel said the consent process for construction of up to two new berths was nearly complete and preliminary engineering and costing work was also under way.

There was a good business case for expansion of the facilities at Marsden Pt, but the NPC directors considered it prudent to delay any decision to proceed until there was more certainty surrounding title issues raised in the Foreshore and Seabed Bill.

Interested parties had addressed the issue "fairly well" at the select committee taking submissions on the bill, he said, and NPC was looking for 100-year leases in perpetuity.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)