The Port Future Study is currently underway and due to be completed by the end of June 2016. Below is an overview of what it is and what it will do.
Why is there a Port Future Study?
Recent public concerns about proposed Auckland port development plans and the impact of port activities on the wider harbour environment has resulted in the Port Future Study being commissioned.
In April 2015, Mayor Len Brown initiated a study into the long-term future of the Ports of Auckland to ensure Aucklanders are involved in decisions about our port’s future development.
The council’s Auckland Development Committee commissioned the study agreeing to a collaborative stakeholder process independent of Auckland Council and conducted by Aucklanders who have an interest in the port and its future development.
The study is designed to involve as many interested sectors as possible to ensure a wide range of views and experience is represented.
What will it do?
The objective of the Port Future Study is to recommend a long-term strategy for the provision of facilities to accommodate sea-based imports and exports and the cruise industry flowing to and from Auckland and its wider region in an economically, socially, culturally and environmentally acceptable manner, taking into account competing uses for city centre waterfront space and the various impacts of options
The study will also assess the opportunities that a range of options affords Māori.
By the end of June 2016 the Port Future Study will provide recommendations to Auckland Council on the way forward.
The council will then make decisions on future port development with these recommendations in mind.
Who are the Port Future study members?
A Reference Group consisting of stakeholder organisations from the wider community, including mana whenua representatives, was established on 9 July 2015.
The purpose of this group is to represent the stakeholder organisations and community groups on the Port Future Study and act as a sounding board to challenge and provide feedback on the work and the recommendations made by the consensus working group.
Its members are drawn from business, industry and community groups, marine recreation, heritage groups, environmental organisations, specialist interest groups and mana whenua.
The Consensus Working Group (CWG) has 16 members – 12 members are from stakeholder organisations and four are from mana whenua. It is not sector based but selected from within the larger Reference Group.
The CWG's role is to finalise and agree the study’s scope, provide direction, identify and request work, engage independent consultants to carry out the study and liaise with the Reference Group.
The consensus working group will also receive the final study report and make recommendations to the council on the way forward.
Dr Rick Boven is the independent chair of both groups. He will oversee the study’s work and the recommendations that will be made to the council.
How does it work?
The study has been designed to be independently led by Aucklanders with an interest in the port and its future development including mana whenua representatives. They are responsible for working through and understanding the study findings to make their consensus recommendations to the council.
The Port Future Study will use a collaborative approach allowing stakeholders and mana whenua to engage in an independent and transparent process that will result in recommendations to the council.
The Reference Group and smaller Consensus Working Group are the vehicles for this collaborative process. The two groups are without political representation and are independent of the council.
What is Auckland Council’s role?
As the study is independent, Auckland Council’s role will be at the conclusion of the Port Future Study when it received the study’s recommendations and makes decisions on future port development with these recommendations in mind.
