A proposal to ferry imported cars from the Ports of Auckland to Highbrook is still viable, despite the economic impact of Covid-19, according to PTS Group chief executive John Keenan.
Photo: Supplied
The company first floated the idea last year and was already planning to build a five-storey, 1.6-hectare solar-powered car storage facility at its existing Highbrook depot in south Auckland.
Under its proposal it wanted to be able to use ferries to transport up to 230,000 vehicles a year from Auckland's Captain Cook and Bledisloe wharves along the Tamaki estuary to the site.
But Keenan said the situation has been on hold since last year while it waits to hear back from the Ports of Auckland. The fact the work would have to fit in with the port's day to day operations means it would have to agree with the final proposal.
"We do have a site that can take several thousand vehicles at a time and we wouldn't need to build a new facility at this stage to start ferrying them to Highbrook," he said.
Keenan was unwilling to say how much the ferries would cost, but confirmed the company has already costed the ships which would be able to carry up to 250 cars each. He said the company has looked at both electric and diesel powered vessels.
With debate about moving the Ports of Auckland to Whangarei and the fact Auckland's waterfront wharves often resemble a giant car park for imported vehicles, the PTS proposal has some appeal.
Last year Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said the council wanted to see more efficient use of the wharves, including freeing up berth space on the western side of Bledisloe Wharf and Captain Cook Wharf for cruise ships.
He said the council also wanted to reduce the number of vehicles being transported in the downtown area and on the motorway network.
Goff was keen to see the PTS proposal get the go ahead and in a letter to Ports of Auckland chair Liz Coutts he called for it to investigate the company's proposition.
According to Ports of Auckland spokesman Matt Ball it looked at the PTS proposal last year and concluded that it could be done and would help reduce the number of truck movements in downtown Auckland.
"However, it has always been a commercial proposal, put forward by PTS," he said. "Ports of Auckland understands that PTS are still interested in the idea, and we look forward to hearing from them with more detail on their plans in due course."
But Ball said the number of cars currently being imported has been seriously impacted by the coronavirus and isn't expected to pick up anytime soon.
He said figures from April show it saw a 30 percent drop in the number of imported vehicles.
Keenan said he can understand the fact both the Auckland Council and the Ports of Auckland are still dealing with the impact of Covid-19. But he's keen to see the parties involved start talking again.
"Some of the decisions on that have no-doubt been slowed down because of Covid-19. But I think those discussions need to continue."
However, Keenan said it's important that there is the political will from Auckland Council to do it.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff was contacted for comment for this story.
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