A rock and a hard place on Interislander
So there were plenty of reasons to frown on KiwiRail’s plan. But the decision to suddenly and unequivocally pull the plug fell short on a number of counts, not least its reception in the affected regions from local government, businesses and workers.
Marlborough MP Stuart Smith struggled to enthuse about his own government’s call.
The problems don’t just stop at the hellfor-leather scrapping of the scheme, nor at out-of-joint noses. The ferries are, as the cliche goes, the watery bit of SH1, and the
Government has a responsibility to ensure they run safely, affordably and efficiently. They are a crucial piece of social, as well as commercial, infrastructure with a strong public good and national interest component. They are not just a balance sheet item.
The decision to cancel the two new ferries is the most problematic part, especially since – as Willis has noted – the new ships only account for about 20% of the overall cost and were not the cause of the big blowout.
KiwiRail CEO Peter Reidy has floated building the ships, and then selling them to a third party. That would also keep options open while a second look was taken at the land-side infrastructure.
But the Government has not exactly jumped at the idea.
It seems that while the new ships could be used with the existing infrastructure and wharves, upgrades would be needed to accommodate Kiwirail’s rail operation, so other ships would be needed.
The Government’s Plan B – as much as there is one – has been to talk airily about alternative, more modest ferries, which could be the equivalent of a second-hand Tesla or Toyota Corolla rather than the gold-plated “Ferrari” vessels KiwiRail wanted.
The spin doctor who came up with that everyperson nonsense is probably proud, but it belittles the need for better ships and the long-term benefits they would deliver.
The 220m vessels would have been the first purpose-built ones since the 186m Aratere in 1999. They could carry twice as many passengers as the current three ships, 300% more rail wagons and almost double the number of trucks and other vehicles. They are touted as meeting 30 years of freight and passenger growth. Being hybrid-electric they would help the company meet its emission reduction targets for 2030 and 2050.
They would also be quieter in harbours, safer and would have a less damaging wake.
Now, as a country, we generally agree we have underinvested in infrastructure. Successive governments, including this one, have promised to rectify that. But in reality we are too often penny-wise but pound-foolish in providing for future generations.
OK, no-one wants to throw unnecessary cash at KiwiRail’s gilded port-side plan, but do we really want to fall back on the mediocre make-do – the maritime equivalent of a used Toyota?
I guess in five or 10 years, when the ships need replacing and facilities are still below par, we can explain to tourists that this is what we, a $300b-plus developed economy, chose for the link between our two main islands. But at least we will be able to proudly say “thank goodness we didn’t spend that extra $1.5b”.