Port gets OK to boost size of terminal
Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) has permission to triple the size of its container terminal despite concerns from residents.
Up to eight new ship-to-shore cranes can now be built on reclaimed land to the east of the existing terminal following a recently granted resource consent. Containers can now also be stacked up to nine high.
The terminal is likely to be built in two stages, with the first beginning in 2025. The company has until 2052 to build it under the consent.
It is designed to meet expected future freight demand. The port expected freight to rise from the equivalent of 437,000 containers to
1.5 million in mid-2040.
LPC has reclaimed 10 hectares of land since 2011 using material mostly from buildings demolished after the 2011 quakes. A further 6ha is in the process of being reclaimed and will be completed by early next year.
Consent documents show four of the new cranes will be next to the 16ha of reclaimed land and the other four will be along an
18ha section yet to be reclaimed. LPC infrastructure manager Mike Simmers said a decision to reclaim the further 18ha has not been made. The timing was dependent on cargo growth and commercial viability.
The consent application attracted 37 submissions – 24 in support, nine opposed and four neutral. Those against were concerned about increased noise.
Diamond Harbour residents Matthew Ross and Thomas Kulpe were also worried lights at the new terminal could negatively impact Diamond Harbour.
Ross suggested some native plants on the Diamond Harbour cliff reserves to offset any visual effects of the terminal. But in his decision, commissioner Ken Lawn said native planting in Diamond Harbour was unnecessary because the effects on the area were ‘‘moderate but acceptable’’. Environmental compensation was also beyond his powers and had not been offered by LPC.
A noise expert said noise levels would lower in parts of Lyttelton if the new terminal was fully developed because the operations were shifting east. The town was partly shielded from the new terminal by a ridge.
Lawn concluded that noise levels were acceptable. There would be some improvement in Lyttelton and while Diamond Harbour residents might hear more noise, it would still be at an acceptable level, he said.
Some people wanted heavy port traffic to be redirected to a new purpose-built road.
Lawn said he could understand the desire to separate heavy port traffic from Norwich Quay, but traffic engineers believed the road was not necessary.