$8m upgrade for port
A multi-million dollar upgrade to the log yard at Timaru’s port will go ahead in June.
PrimePort chief executive Phil Melhopt told Stuff the project, which would cost in the region of $8 million, would involve the sealing off of four hectares of the log yard, plus the haul and access roads in and around it.
‘‘It will involve quite a lot of earthworks building up the levels, putting in a pavement and then putting in an asphalt layer on it to handle regular very heavy equipment like log loaders,’’
‘‘The total project is upwards of $8 million and the construction and timeframe for completion about 40 weeks.’’ Phil Melhopt
PrimePort chief executive
Melhopt said.
‘‘The total project is upwards of $8 million and the construction and timeframe for completion about 40 weeks.
‘‘Work will progress while the log yard is running as well, so it is quite important how they stage things and maintain an operational environment while also improving it.
Transportation of logs began again under alert level three last week.
The industry was impacted in January as Covid-19 took a hold of the Chinese market, and was then further delayed in March due to the New Zealandwide pandemic-related lockdown.
Log shipments were suspended on February 3 and several thousand tonnes of logs expected to leave Timaru’s port on March
26 were not loaded as scheduled. The 32,000 tonne bulk carrier Hainan Island arrived in port last Wednesday embarked with 22,000 cubic metres of Blakely Pacific and Laurie Forestry logs bound for South Korea and China at the weekend.
Melhopt said the project was an important one for the region’s log industry, and the port, as it would allow logs to be stored in a cleaner, safer environment while awaiting export.
‘‘It is an important project because the log yard is currently unsealed. It has a gravel surface which has a high maintenance cost.
‘‘Also, importantly because it’s a gravel surface, it’s hard to maintain and to keep from organic matter. When bark, mud and bits and pieces come off the logs, it mixes with gravel, sand and clay and can present contamination on the logs.’’
He said the upgrades would also help the logs to meet international and Ministry for Primary Industries phytosanitary requirements for export.
‘‘It’s important that when logs come in here they have to be kept clean and not fouled with organic matter from what it is stored on.
It would also be more efficient and economical to run loaders on a sealed surface than the current gravel surface, Melhopt said.
We’re looking forward to seeing the project delivered and I’m sure our log export customers will be too.
Rooney Earthmoving has been awarded the contract and has been approached for comment.