Shifting port
Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman is worried
by what he has heard at meetings in the region
on the Government's proposal to shift the
interisland ferries from Picton to Clifford Bay.
Mayor asks Minister for Impact Report
http://www.marlborough.govt.nz/Your-Council/News-Notices/Media-Releases/Clifford-Bay-Impact-Report.aspx
18 February 2013
Mayor asks Minister to commission an independent social and economic impact report
Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman has requested that central government commission an independent social and economic impact report to understand the effect that moving the ferry terminal to Clifford Bay would have on the businesses and community of Marlborough.
Mr Sowman has written to the Minister of Transport Gerry Brownlee, seeking an assurance that this analysis would be completed and included at an early stage of the Government’s decision-making process on the Clifford Bay proposal.
Marlborough’s ratepayers should not be carrying the cost of the planning and research for a national project, nor should they be expected to fund a study into the impacts they will face as a consequence of this project, said Mr Sowman.
“If this goes ahead, there is a very big risk that Marlborough – even the whole top of the south – will become a regional cul de sac.”
Mr Sowman says New Zealand has already had bitter experience of the effects of political decision-making based solely on financial outcomes while ignoring social consequences and he did not want to see that happen to Marlborough.
“The pain wrought by Rogernomics caused permanent damage to some communities because the effect of families and society was ignored. If the government determines it will go ahead on this, I’m sure they will also recognise that it will cause hurt within our region.”
The Mayor says feedback suggests Picton stands to lose about two hundred port, rail and ferry related jobs and that figure could double when all the related and associated employment in the retail, hospitality and accommodation sector is taken into account.
“Some of this will be displacement – with jobs moving to Clifford Bay – but many of Picton’s tourism and retail jobs will be wiped out.”
The drop in population, coupled with unemployment and businesses losses, would have a direct effect on Picton’s schools and social services, he said.
“I’ve now sat through seven hours of public discussion on this issue; listening to the various viewpoints from different parts of the region and the many questions that have been raised. While this project would offer significant advantages to the Seddon-Ward area, my fear is that it will, overall, disadvantage this region as a whole.”
“But we’re all working with uncertainty because there is no accurate data - and that uncertainty creates a cost in itself. It is debilitating for ferry-dependent businesses but it is also difficult for those who don’t know how much they will be hurt if the shift goes ahead.”
It’s the government’s responsibility to ensure a full social and economic impact report is incorporated into the decision-making process well before final decisions are made and the consent process begins, he said.
Mr Sowman says there is no doubt that the project would bring some benefits; construction investment and jobs on the Awatere side, and the positive aspects of reducing some of the heavy freight traffic through Blenheim. But any new port-related jobs would be more than matched by losses elsewhere, particularly in the tourism industry.
“Construction project work comes to an end – our tourism industry is a permanent part of our local economy.”
The Mayor also says it’s imperative that a cogent analysis of the risks to Marlborough ratepayers forms part of the decision-making.
“We need to see the detail and scope of the work that has already been done - and to be assured that all impacts are taken into account before any final decision.”
Mr Sowman says a thorough economic assessment report would take time and resources with the cost likely to run well beyond a hundred thousand dollars.
“That’s going to be another cost in this proposal but I am sure the government, if it wants to proceed, will acknowledge its responsibility to look at all aspects of this project thoroughly.”
“I also want to know if our ratepayers are at any risk of carrying capital or on-going costs indirectly associated with the project. Given the lack of information, we cannot accurately assess where costs may fall.”
Mr Sowman said establishing Clifford Bay would raise a need for new community facilities and services in the Awatere and the scale and quality of water and sewerage infrastructure would need to be addressed.
He said some ferry-related businesses would have to shift their operations and there would be cost involved in that.
The loss of a chunk of Port Marlborough’s dividend would be a blow to ratepayers, diminishing an important revenue source for the region.
“Most importantly, we need to understand what this would do to the viability of Picton; whether it would be able to sustain its present services. What, for example, would happen to the school rolls and associated funding?”
“If the government does decide it’s in the national interest to go ahead with the move to Clifford Bay, we cannot afford to have central government pushing costs onto our ratepayers, either for the project itself or for the planning in the run up to it. That would be grossly unfair to the ratepayers of this, the second smallest region in the country.”
ALISTAIR SOWMAN
MAYOR
http://www.marlborough.govt.nz/Your-Council/News-Notices/Media-Releases/Clifford-Bay-Impact-Report.aspx
18 February 2013
Mayor asks Minister to commission an independent social and economic impact report
Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman has requested that central government commission an independent social and economic impact report to understand the effect that moving the ferry terminal to Clifford Bay would have on the businesses and community of Marlborough.
Mr Sowman has written to the Minister of Transport Gerry Brownlee, seeking an assurance that this analysis would be completed and included at an early stage of the Government’s decision-making process on the Clifford Bay proposal.
Marlborough’s ratepayers should not be carrying the cost of the planning and research for a national project, nor should they be expected to fund a study into the impacts they will face as a consequence of this project, said Mr Sowman.
“If this goes ahead, there is a very big risk that Marlborough – even the whole top of the south – will become a regional cul de sac.”
Mr Sowman says New Zealand has already had bitter experience of the effects of political decision-making based solely on financial outcomes while ignoring social consequences and he did not want to see that happen to Marlborough.
“The pain wrought by Rogernomics caused permanent damage to some communities because the effect of families and society was ignored. If the government determines it will go ahead on this, I’m sure they will also recognise that it will cause hurt within our region.”
The Mayor says feedback suggests Picton stands to lose about two hundred port, rail and ferry related jobs and that figure could double when all the related and associated employment in the retail, hospitality and accommodation sector is taken into account.
“Some of this will be displacement – with jobs moving to Clifford Bay – but many of Picton’s tourism and retail jobs will be wiped out.”
The drop in population, coupled with unemployment and businesses losses, would have a direct effect on Picton’s schools and social services, he said.
“I’ve now sat through seven hours of public discussion on this issue; listening to the various viewpoints from different parts of the region and the many questions that have been raised. While this project would offer significant advantages to the Seddon-Ward area, my fear is that it will, overall, disadvantage this region as a whole.”
“But we’re all working with uncertainty because there is no accurate data - and that uncertainty creates a cost in itself. It is debilitating for ferry-dependent businesses but it is also difficult for those who don’t know how much they will be hurt if the shift goes ahead.”
It’s the government’s responsibility to ensure a full social and economic impact report is incorporated into the decision-making process well before final decisions are made and the consent process begins, he said.
Mr Sowman says there is no doubt that the project would bring some benefits; construction investment and jobs on the Awatere side, and the positive aspects of reducing some of the heavy freight traffic through Blenheim. But any new port-related jobs would be more than matched by losses elsewhere, particularly in the tourism industry.
“Construction project work comes to an end – our tourism industry is a permanent part of our local economy.”
The Mayor also says it’s imperative that a cogent analysis of the risks to Marlborough ratepayers forms part of the decision-making.
“We need to see the detail and scope of the work that has already been done - and to be assured that all impacts are taken into account before any final decision.”
Mr Sowman says a thorough economic assessment report would take time and resources with the cost likely to run well beyond a hundred thousand dollars.
“That’s going to be another cost in this proposal but I am sure the government, if it wants to proceed, will acknowledge its responsibility to look at all aspects of this project thoroughly.”
“I also want to know if our ratepayers are at any risk of carrying capital or on-going costs indirectly associated with the project. Given the lack of information, we cannot accurately assess where costs may fall.”
Mr Sowman said establishing Clifford Bay would raise a need for new community facilities and services in the Awatere and the scale and quality of water and sewerage infrastructure would need to be addressed.
He said some ferry-related businesses would have to shift their operations and there would be cost involved in that.
The loss of a chunk of Port Marlborough’s dividend would be a blow to ratepayers, diminishing an important revenue source for the region.
“Most importantly, we need to understand what this would do to the viability of Picton; whether it would be able to sustain its present services. What, for example, would happen to the school rolls and associated funding?”
“If the government does decide it’s in the national interest to go ahead with the move to Clifford Bay, we cannot afford to have central government pushing costs onto our ratepayers, either for the project itself or for the planning in the run up to it. That would be grossly unfair to the ratepayers of this, the second smallest region in the country.”
ALISTAIR SOWMAN
MAYOR
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Clifford Bay First Meeting
14 February 2013
Picton Village Bakkerij manager Sarah O'Bryan
speaks to Mayor Alistair Sowman at the close
of the meeting.
Picton ferry move
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Brownlee to get back to mayor
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Last updated 07:56 22/02/2013
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Last updated 07:56 22/02/2013
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Last updated 13:00 19/02/2013
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Jobs on line in ferry proposal
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Last updated 07:35 19/02/2013
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Last updated 17:14 16/02/2013
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Inter-Islander ad "Sailing to the Other Side" (1990)
Ad for the Picton-Wellingotn ferry service
featuring an original song by the Waratahs.
This song became a big hit for the 'Tah's
and even features on their Greatest Hits CD.
Arahura enters Tory Channel
from Queen Charlotte Sound.
PHOTOS ABOVE and BELOW: Carol Cudby
Clifford Bay -
The new destination for our interisland ferry terminal?
Marlborough Sounds Adventure Company owner Sara Archdale talks......
The big question – will the interisland ferry terminal be shifted from Picton to Clifford Bay
took a step closer to being answered yesterday with the announcement that a feasibility study will be completed by early next year.
Clifford Bay is located on the eastern coastline, directly opposite Wellington and about a 1.5 hour drive south of Picton.
It is said will take 80 minutes off a road-ferry trip and 110 minutes off a rail-ferry trip.
On the surface it looks a simple equation – fuel and time savings for transport will be significant, but it will be interesting to see how they justify the social impacts on not only Picton with the loss of around 1 million passengers travelling through our town but also how it affects the visitor travel routes around the top of the South.
Marlborough Sounds Adventure Company owner Sara Archdale talks to Katherine Ryan on Radio New Zealand
<iframe src=”http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/remote-player?id=2537399” width=”100%” frameborder=”0″ height=”62px”></iframe>
It will also be interesting to see how they justify the environmental impacts on what is currently a piece of untouched coastline.
There is also the issues around the weather with this piece of coastline being notoriously exposed and rough. We see the effects in Picton,
when the ferries are cancelled or postponed due to weather. Passengers are relieved that they have the choice of cafes, shops and accommodation
while they wait for the weather to clear. One can only imagine what it will be like for those marooned at Clifford Bay, with little infrastructure around them,
waiting for the ferries to sail.
When we think about the impacts on our community, it is wide-reaching and has the potential to substantially change the way our town operates.
Picton will always be a beautiful place to visit and stay, as will the Marlborough Sounds, but the infrastructure that we currently enjoy, which is based
on the flow of visitor traffic, will change significantly if those visitor flows drop. This then flows on to the services that can be provided and in turn
effects the visitor experience.
We will be working hard with others in our community to ensure that the true costs and implications of this decision are included in the feasibility study.
An interesting time ahead!
Tags: clifford bay, inter-island ferry, inter-island ferry terminal shift, Interislander, Marlborough, Marlborough Sounds, Marlborough Sounds Adventure Co., New Zealand, Picton
This entry was posted on Friday, November 2nd, 2012 at 1:20 pm
1990s Ferry terminal plans resurrected
Archived videos below
The new destination for our interisland ferry terminal?
Marlborough Sounds Adventure Company owner Sara Archdale talks......
The big question – will the interisland ferry terminal be shifted from Picton to Clifford Bay
took a step closer to being answered yesterday with the announcement that a feasibility study will be completed by early next year.
Clifford Bay is located on the eastern coastline, directly opposite Wellington and about a 1.5 hour drive south of Picton.
It is said will take 80 minutes off a road-ferry trip and 110 minutes off a rail-ferry trip.
On the surface it looks a simple equation – fuel and time savings for transport will be significant, but it will be interesting to see how they justify the social impacts on not only Picton with the loss of around 1 million passengers travelling through our town but also how it affects the visitor travel routes around the top of the South.
Marlborough Sounds Adventure Company owner Sara Archdale talks to Katherine Ryan on Radio New Zealand
<iframe src=”http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/remote-player?id=2537399” width=”100%” frameborder=”0″ height=”62px”></iframe>
It will also be interesting to see how they justify the environmental impacts on what is currently a piece of untouched coastline.
There is also the issues around the weather with this piece of coastline being notoriously exposed and rough. We see the effects in Picton,
when the ferries are cancelled or postponed due to weather. Passengers are relieved that they have the choice of cafes, shops and accommodation
while they wait for the weather to clear. One can only imagine what it will be like for those marooned at Clifford Bay, with little infrastructure around them,
waiting for the ferries to sail.
When we think about the impacts on our community, it is wide-reaching and has the potential to substantially change the way our town operates.
Picton will always be a beautiful place to visit and stay, as will the Marlborough Sounds, but the infrastructure that we currently enjoy, which is based
on the flow of visitor traffic, will change significantly if those visitor flows drop. This then flows on to the services that can be provided and in turn
effects the visitor experience.
We will be working hard with others in our community to ensure that the true costs and implications of this decision are included in the feasibility study.
An interesting time ahead!
Tags: clifford bay, inter-island ferry, inter-island ferry terminal shift, Interislander, Marlborough, Marlborough Sounds, Marlborough Sounds Adventure Co., New Zealand, Picton
This entry was posted on Friday, November 2nd, 2012 at 1:20 pm
1990s Ferry terminal plans resurrected
Archived videos below
The Ministry of Transport
has begun consultation
over a proposal to move
the ferry terminal from
Picton to Clifford Bay.
