Latest news with #PortMarlborough
1News
02-07-2025
- Business
- 1News
Dublin St overbridge confirmed in post-iReX Picton plans
A port infrastructure upgrade in Picton to accommodate new ferries will include building a Dublin St overbridge, Rail Minister Winston Peters confirmed on Tuesday. He was in the port town to announce that Ferry Holdings has reached an agreement with CentrePort, Port Marlborough and KiwiRail on the core infrastructure scope for the new Interislander ferries, covering the physical work and equipment to be delivered by 2029. The Dublin St overbridge was a feature of the previous ferry project iReX, and work had already started on the site when the project was scrapped at the end of 2023. The intersection had to be put back to normal in 2024 to restore the road connection to central Picton. On Tuesday, Peters said the overbridge was necessary to rid the town of the blocked streets it would experience when freight-laden trains arrived at the port. 'This road takes 33% of the passengers from both ferry operators, but it's blocked when long trains arrive in Picton or shunting movements take place in the in the rail yard,' he said. ADVERTISEMENT 'This impacts tourists visiting New Zealand and locals alike. 'Trains will get longer and busier in the future, so we must address this problem.' Rail Minister Winston Peters announces new infrastructure for Port Marlborough in Picton on Tuesday. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) Peters said the overbridge, which would be funded by KiwiRail, would be ready by 2029, and would be built with minimal disruption to the community. 'The teams at Ferry Holdings, CentrePort, Port Marlborough and KiwiRail are doing an outstanding job in the service of the taxpayer, and we thank them for it.' Mayor Nadine Taylor welcomed the announcement as the overbridge had been requested by the community since the scrapped iReX project. 'I'm feeling really pleased and really relieved. It's great to have it confirmed, both for Picton and for the community,' Taylor said. ADVERTISEMENT 'We always knew it was needed with the new ferries ... and it's wonderful to have the minister come down here on site to Picton and confirm to the council and to the community that it is going to happen.' Mayor Nadine Taylor says she is pleased by the announcement of an overbridge for Picton's Dublin St. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) Congestion was a critical issue, both for the general public but also emergency services, she said. 'You cannot have a town where you can't have emergency services easily access both sides of the town. 'The overbridge will take away all of that risk. 'It really is a fantastic future-proofing piece of infrastructure for the town of Picton.' Taylor was at Peters' announcement at the Marlborough Port offices on Tuesday, along with Port Marlborough chairperson Warren McNabb, and Ferry Holdings chairperson Chris Mackenzie. ADVERTISEMENT The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Australia's weather bomb, the surprising costs of getting one more dog, and BTS are back. (Source: 1News) Peters said port and KiwiRail agreements would be entered later this year to confirm the investment splits between Ferry Holdings and each other company and other commercial terms. 'This is not our first regatta, as this no-nonsense infrastructure focus is what was supposed to happen in 2020, until poor management and a lack of oversight allowed iReX to blow out,' he said. 'We will save the taxpayer billions through our disciplined approach. 'The agreements entered into effectively mean the ports and KiwiRail are in, boots and all, with Cabinet's preferred low-cost option.' The current Interislander terminal, built as a temporary option, will become the permanent terminal. (Source: Local Democracy Reporting) Another major component of the Picton infrastructure included the reuse of passenger and commercial vehicle facilities, as well as the terminal building. ADVERTISEMENT The Interislander's current terminal building, built as a temporary option after the old terminal building was demolished in 2024, would become the permanent terminal. 'iReX was going to build a Taj Mahal terminal building here in Picton, and a Sydney Opera House in Wellington,' Peters said. 'We are keeping [the] existing buildings in contrast, as all passengers need is a warm, dry spot to wait with their luggage, especially when the vast majority wait in their own vehicle, not the building.' Peters said the pre-fab structure would serve as the terminal building for the next 60 years. 'A whole lot of people, more practical, more clever, more smart, who took this country to be number one in the world ... decided it was the best option, and I agree with them.' Peters said there could need to be additional works performed on the terminal building to make it permanent. By Kira Carrington, Local Democracy Reporter ADVERTISEMENT LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
RNZ News
30-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Port companies and KiwiRail reach agreements over two new Cook Strait ferries
The new ferries will replace the ageing Interislander fleet. Photo: Flickr user Sid Mosdel CC BY 2.0 Agreements have been reached with port companies and KiwiRail on the type of infrastructure and equipment needed before two new Cook Strait ferries arrive in 2029. Rail Minister Winston Peters announced the agreements between Ferry Holdings, Centre Port, Port Marlborough and KiwiRail while in Picton on Tuesday. "The agreements entered into effectively mean the ports and KiwiRail are in, boots and all, with Cabinet's preferred low-cost option," Peters said. Existing port infrastructure would be used where possible to keep costs down, he said. New wharves would be built in Picton and the existing wharf in Wellington would be modified, strengthened and extended "by the minimal amount necessary" to accommodate the new, larger ships, Peters said. New linkspans will be built at both ports. The plan aims to reuse the current passenger and commercial vehicle facilities and the terminal building at both ports. "We are pleased to confirm for the locals in Picton that the Dublin Street overbridge will be built - ridding the town of the blocked streets it will experience when freight-laden trains arrive at the port," Peters said. "The road and rail will be grade separated before 2029 as a safety and an efficiency improvement for road and rail." The ports and KiwiRail have agreed to minimal scope improvements to the rail yards, which Peters said would avoid a costly scope creep by reusing as much of the existing yards as possible at both ports. Six shipbuilders have been shortlisted for the job of delivering the new Cook Strait ferries, with a contract expected to be awarded later this year. The investment split between the companies and each company will also be confirmed later this year. Ferry Holdings - which was set up to lead contractual negotiations with shipyards and ports - has outlined the jobs ahead to 2029 as part of its first Statement of Performance Expectations and Statement of Intent. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Decommissioning Of The Aratere Ferry
Press Release – Ferry Holdings Limited The removal of this berth will mean that the Aratere ferry will no longer be able to deliver services across the Cook Strait. The construction of temporary port infrastructure for the Aratere is not part of the Ferry Holdings work programme. Following the announcements made by the Minister of Rail on 31 March 2025, Ferry Holdings Limited has initiated discussions with KiwiRail, Port Marlborough New Zealand Limited and CentrePort Limited to understand the infrastructure required to meet the Ministers deadline of 2029 for the new Cook Strait ferries to enter operations. To deliver this programme of work, Ferry Holdings is engaging with Port Marlborough and CentrePort to agree detailed port infrastructure plans in quarter 4, 2028. As part of this process work is required to decommission and/or demolition of the Aratere berth. Port Marlborough has advised that the demolition of the Aratere berth is a critical first step to meet the required port infrastructure requirements ahead of the commissioning of the new ferries in 2029. The removal of this berth will mean that the Aratere ferry will no longer be able to deliver services across the Cook Strait. The construction of temporary port infrastructure for the Aratere is not part of the Ferry Holdings work programme. We will continue working closely with both ports to finalise the specifications of the infrastructure required. The ongoing delivery of Cook Strait ferry services provided by KiwiRail is a commercial decision and they will work to manage this with the demand for freight and passenger services. Ferry Holdings Limited Background: • The Government is committed to safe, reliable and affordable Cook Strait ferry services. In March 2025, the Minister for Rail announced plans for the procurement of two new ferries that will serve people, cars, trucks, and rail across the Cook Strait, as well as straightforward infrastructure in Wellington and Picton which maximise reuse and minimise cost. • In December 2023, the Government cancelled Project iReX which sought to replace the Interislander ferries and upgrade the infrastructure. The costs for this Project had grown substantially to $3.1 billion and was forecast to go to $4.0 billion. The Government has established Ferry Holdings to deliver a markedly cheaper deal for taxpayers by 2029. • Ferry Holdings was incorporated in March 2025 to lead from 1 April 2025 the contractual negotiations with shipyards, ports, and any other party required to deliver safe, reliable and affordable inter-island asset replacements to serve the future. • Ferry Holdings is responsible for entering commercial shipyard procurement contracts and port agreements on infrastructure with CentrePort Wellington Limited (CentrePort Wellington), Port Marlborough New Zealand Limited (Port Marlborough) and any other party to enable the affordable delivery of ferries to enter service in 2029. Affordable means markedly cheaper than the cancelled Project iReX.
Scoop
30-04-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Decommissioning Of The Aratere Ferry
Following the announcements made by the Minister of Rail on 31 March 2025, Ferry Holdings Limited has initiated discussions with KiwiRail, Port Marlborough New Zealand Limited and CentrePort Limited to understand the infrastructure required to meet the Ministers deadline of 2029 for the new Cook Strait ferries to enter operations. To deliver this programme of work, Ferry Holdings is engaging with Port Marlborough and CentrePort to agree detailed port infrastructure plans in quarter 4, 2028. As part of this process work is required to decommission and/or demolition of the Aratere berth. Port Marlborough has advised that the demolition of the Aratere berth is a critical first step to meet the required port infrastructure requirements ahead of the commissioning of the new ferries in 2029. The removal of this berth will mean that the Aratere ferry will no longer be able to deliver services across the Cook Strait. The construction of temporary port infrastructure for the Aratere is not part of the Ferry Holdings work programme. We will continue working closely with both ports to finalise the specifications of the infrastructure required. The ongoing delivery of Cook Strait ferry services provided by KiwiRail is a commercial decision and they will work to manage this with the demand for freight and passenger services. Ferry Holdings Limited Background: • The Government is committed to safe, reliable and affordable Cook Strait ferry services. In March 2025, the Minister for Rail announced plans for the procurement of two new ferries that will serve people, cars, trucks, and rail across the Cook Strait, as well as straightforward infrastructure in Wellington and Picton which maximise reuse and minimise cost. • In December 2023, the Government cancelled Project iReX which sought to replace the Interislander ferries and upgrade the infrastructure. The costs for this Project had grown substantially to $3.1 billion and was forecast to go to $4.0 billion. The Government has established Ferry Holdings to deliver a markedly cheaper deal for taxpayers by 2029. • Ferry Holdings was incorporated in March 2025 to lead from 1 April 2025 the contractual negotiations with shipyards, ports, and any other party required to deliver safe, reliable and affordable inter-island asset replacements to serve the future. • Ferry Holdings is responsible for entering commercial shipyard procurement contracts and port agreements on infrastructure with CentrePort Wellington Limited (CentrePort Wellington), Port Marlborough New Zealand Limited (Port Marlborough) and any other party to enable the affordable delivery of ferries to enter service in 2029. Affordable means markedly cheaper than the cancelled Project iReX.
