New wharf approved for Napier Port

Napier Port has been granted consent to build a new wharf amid proposed plans for a 49 per cent sell-off.

Independent commissioners have approved the consent, following hearings held earlier this year.

Napier Port lodged the application to meet its future berthage needs for larger vessels and to undertake dredging to provide a safe and navigable approach channel for those vessels, the documents said.

The proposed wharf would be located alongside the northern face of the existing container terminal and to be 350 metres in length and 34m wide.

The first stage of capital dredging would provide depth to 14.5m under the proposed wharf and an adjacent ‘‘berth pocket’’.

It would also include deepening of the swinging basin, parts of the inner harbour area and the first part of the area of the new channel closest to the port to a depth of 12.5m. This would involve approximately 1.14 million cubic metres of dredged material.

Stage 1 of the dredging was expected to take approximately 50 weeks and each of the subsequent four stages expected to take eight or nine weeks.

A new coastal permit was also sought for the deposition and disposal of the dredged material some 4 to 6 kilometres immediately to the east of the port. The port was also seeking a new coastal permit to authorise its existing and proposed occupation of the coastal marine area.

The commissioners granted consent for the applications subject to a range of conditions. A Napier Port spokeswoman said it was ‘‘thrilled’’ by their decision.

A Hawke’s Bay Regional Council spokeswoman said any comment was for the port to make.

The decision comes as the council consults on possibly selling up to 49 per cent of the port so it can cope with its growth.