Latest news with #iReX
1News
14 hours ago
- 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.
1News
2 days ago
- Business
- 1News
Cook Strait ferries: 'No nonsense' infrastructure deal — Peters
Key infrastructure agreements have been struck between port operators and government agencies ahead of the arrival of replacement Cook Strait ferries in 2029. Ferry Holdings Limited's agreements with CentrePort, Port Marlborough and KiwiRail set out the scope of physical work and equipment to be delivered by 2029 when two new Interislander vessels arrive, Rail Minister Winston Peters announced this morning. In Picton, new wharves and linkspans will be built, while in Wellington, "we will be maximising the use of the existing Aratere infrastructure by modifying and strengthening the existing wharf to suit new ferries for the next 30 years and building a new linkspan". The existing wharf in Wellington would be extended "by the minimal amount necessary to accommodate the new, larger ships". Contract with Hyundai to build two new Interislander ferries as well as infrastructure contracts were canned after the coalition took office. (Source: 1News) ADVERTISEMENT "Perfectly good yards will continue to serve us as they have for decades," Peters said. An overbridge would also be built at Dublin St in Picton, the minister confirmed, which would separate road traffic from freight trains. The new bridge would "rid the town of the blocked streets it will experience when freight-laden trains arrive at the port. The road and rail will be grade-separated before 2029 as a safety and efficiency improvement for road and rail." Peters said: "The ports and KiwiRail have agreed to minimal scope improvements to the yards, avoiding much of the costly scope creep which occurred under iReX, which sought to lift the yards by metres and then complete required reconfigurations." New Zealand First leader Winston Peters. (Source: 1News) He added, criticising the previous Labour government: "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." Peters has faced criticism from the opposition as he was part of the Labour coalition government, which first decided to replace the Interislander ferries. ADVERTISEMENT New Zealand First, Peters' party, subsequently entered into a coalition with National following the 2023 election. The Government went on to cancel existing contracts for new ships as one of its first major moves in office after major cost escalations.
Otago Daily Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Treasury told government not to buy rail enabled Cook Strait ferries
Minister for Rail Winston Peters announcing the Cook Strait ferry replacement plan back in March. Photo: RNZ Treasury advised the government not to buy rail enabled Cook Strait ferries three weeks before it announced it would. On March 31 the government announced it would buy two new Interislander ferries to be delivered by 2029 to replace the current aging fleet. It came in wake of Finance Minister Nicola Willis having pulled the plug on the previous government's Cook Strait mega ferry plan named iReX in 2023. The ships announced in March would be 200 metres long and rail-enabled, which meant rail freight could be rolled on and off them. New documents revealed under the Official Information Act show that just 20 days earlier, on March 10, Treasury recommended the government buy non-rail-enabled ships. The agency said the option would be cheaper while achieving the aim of the project. "There are operational advantages from rail-enablement, but these do not fully offset the increased capital cost." The Ministry of Transport also cast doubt on the move, and last year a Ministerial Advisory Group recommended the government buy two non-rail-enabled ferries. Meanwhile the Ferry Holdings Company which was set up in March to lead contractual negotiations with shipyards and ports supported a decision to buy rail-enabled ferries. "The simplest and most efficient method of moving freight across Cook Strait is by rail-enabled ferries." In a statement to RNZ Rail Minister Winston Peters said that officials took a narrow approach on the consideration of the ferry options. "They were effectively on autopilot, believing the government would agree to end 60 years of Interislander connecting road and rail." Peters said he did not agree with the advice Treasury provided. "Their advice was so blinkered that it consistently presented its recommended solution as "cheaper" even when their own analysis showed the option we selected had the lowest overall cost and the highest economic value." Treasury declined to comment on Peters' statements.
Otago Daily Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Govt was advised by Treasury not to buy rail-enabled ferries
Minister for Rail Winston Peters announcing the Cook Strait ferry replacement plan back in March. Photo: RNZ Treasury advised the government not to buy rail enabled Cook Strait ferries three weeks before it announced it would. On March 31 the government announced it would buy two new Interislander ferries to be delivered by 2029 to replace the current aging fleet. It came in wake of Finance Minister Nicola Willis having pulled the plug on the previous government's Cook Strait mega ferry plan named iReX in 2023. The ships announced in March would be 200 metres long and rail-enabled, which meant rail freight could be rolled on and off them. New documents revealed under the Official Information Act show that just 20 days earlier, on March 10, Treasury recommended the government buy non-rail-enabled ships. The agency said the option would be cheaper while achieving the aim of the project. "There are operational advantages from rail-enablement, but these do not fully offset the increased capital cost." The Ministry of Transport also cast doubt on the move, and last year a Ministerial Advisory Group recommended the government buy two non-rail-enabled ferries. Meanwhile the Ferry Holdings Company which was set up in March to lead contractual negotiations with shipyards and ports supported a decision to buy rail-enabled ferries. "The simplest and most efficient method of moving freight across Cook Strait is by rail-enabled ferries." In a statement to RNZ Rail Minister Winston Peters said that officials took a narrow approach on the consideration of the ferry options. "They were effectively on autopilot, believing the government would agree to end 60 years of Interislander connecting road and rail." Peters said he did not agree with the advice Treasury provided. "Their advice was so blinkered that it consistently presented its recommended solution as "cheaper" even when their own analysis showed the option we selected had the lowest overall cost and the highest economic value." Treasury declined to comment on Peters' statements.
Scoop
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
‘Quiet Street' To Become Permanent SH1 Through Picton
Article – Kira Carrington – Local Democracy Reporter A resident who describes the decision as 'pretty horrible' is concerned about a nearby school. By , Local Democracy reporter Picton's Kent St is to become the new State Highway 1, to the surprise of some of its residents. New Zealand Transport Agency / Waka Kotahi has announced that Kent St, which has been a 'de facto state highway' during ferry terminal works since 2023, will officially become SH1, with some improvements to suit. The route bypasses the Nelson Square roundabout and central Picton, taking a more direct route towards the ferry terminal. Kent St resident Pam Wharehoka, who has lived on the street since 1982, said it 'used to be a quiet street'. 'Hardly anyone came down [here], kids used to ride their bikes down here. [That] can't happen any more.' When the terminal works started and all the trucks started coming down the street, the children welcomed it, she said. 'The kids used to stand out there and [wave], and the drivers would give them a toot.' The Interislander ferry terminal moved to Lagoon Rd in 2023, as part of wider works for the now-canned iReX ferry project to accommodate new, larger ferries. NZTA regional manager of system design Richard Osborne said that ever since, all traffic accessing the ferry terminals had been going down Kent St. 'Kent St has been acting as the de facto state highway. This is one of the key aspects the Picton Road Network Improvements Project wants to address,' Osborne said. He said NZTA was obliged to send a Notice of Requirement to the Marlborough District Council to commandeer the council-owned road. The road would be maintained by Marlborough Roads, which was responsible for both council-owned roads and NZTA state highways. Kent St resident Sue Letchford said the announcement was a long time coming. 'Well, it's been coming for years, but it's still pretty horrible,' Letchford said. She was worried about the safety of students from Picton School, which backed onto Kent St. NZTA said it would work with the Marlborough District Council to install a variable speed limit by the school, with a lower speed limit in place during peak school time. Picton School declined to comment on the changes. Letchford said she was pleased that the roads would be upgraded to support the increase in traffic. 'Kent St is all right, but Oxford St gets ripped out … constantly.' Kent St residents had previously complained that the increase in trucks was noisy and 'smashing up' the road, which required 'major reconstruction'. Kent St resident Linda Andrell said the sounds of the trucks were just white noise to her. 'I've been here a few years now so I don't even [hear it]. Maybe at about 10 o'clock at night you might notice it.' Dean Humphrey said the news was 'good and bad'. 'We're talking about the [street] parking here … We're going to be up at the library and have a talk to them about it,' Humphrey said, referring to drop-in sessions planned for next week. The sessions will be held at Picton Library and Service Centre Waitohi Whare Mātauranga on 17-18 June. Work on the planned upgrades will start mid-next year.
