Sports-for-port plan 'nonsense'

Transport operators say the idea of putting a sports stadium on a container wharf of the busiest port in the country is a "bloody nonsense".

Sports Minister Trevor Mallard said this week the Government was evaluating waterfront sites in Auckland for a world-class new stadium as an alternative to redeveloping Eden Park for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Speculation has centred on the aptly named Axis Bledisloe, one of two adjacent container terminals operated by Ports of Auckland, the country's biggest port. Bledisloe handles 32 per cent of Auckland's containers.

Both transport operators and the union representing nearly 600 port employees said the proposal would play into the hands of rival Port of Tauranga, at a time when the two ports were vying to be the chosen hub of giant shipping companies like Maersk.

Simon Tapper of Tapper Transport, which runs 200 truck trips to and from Auckland's port each day, said it was a "whimsical toss-away idea from some stupid politician".

If it went ahead, it would be the death knell for Auckland's port.

The plan was a "bloody nonsense", he said.

Don Braid, managing director of Mainfreight, said it was important to the whole country that Auckland was attractive to international shippers.

"To have that port congested with a sports stadium seems totally contrary to that."

Denis Carlisle, boss of the Auckland branch of the Maritime Union, thought the suggestion was "kite flying".

He said the site needed major reinforcing and the port was short of land. "The port can't afford to lose the space."

- NZPA