Inland port partners plan radical concept

Friday 24th August 2001

By Graeme Kennedy

Ports of Auckland's planned venture with Tranz Rail to establish an inland port at Palmerston North is far from dead and could become part of a revolutionary new concept for cargo transport.

The two companies have begun a joint study to investigate a full logistics freight chain from New Zealand factories and producers to overseas ports that would make exporters more competitive and cost effective, Ports of Auckland chief executive Geoff Vazey said yesterday.

"It will be complex and require a lot of discussion," he said. "But the new concept will bring freight carriage into the 21st century - it will involve breaking down a lot of folk- lore about freight transport.

"The plan is extremely container-focused with a bigger logistics reach for Ports of Auckland, with more rail on long-haul and trucks on shorter routes.

"Tranz Rail's vision is the same as our own and that provides an ideal platform to build a transport system for the 21st century. We are working on that rather than proceeding with just one project, the Palmerston North inland port, at this time.

"Reports that the Palmerston North plan is dead are quite wrong. It has been put on hold and we are hopeful it will be a key part of the new concept, with links to Auckland and other places."

The port will meanwhile set up several depots - or micro-ports - in Auckland's southern industrial areas for delivery of export and import containers close to manufacturers and distributors' premises. Mr Vazey said the move would "bring the port right to their door."

Ports of Auckland this week reported an after-tax profit of $44.3 million, up 3%, on revenues of $137.5 million. Container volumes were up 8% to 567,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs).

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