Criticism of Clifford Bay Expenditure

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Criticism of Clifford Bay Expenditure

Friday, 13 April 2012 10:58

Pacifica Shipping chief executive Steve Chapman is “staggered” that having “killed off” funding initiatives for coastal shipping in 2009, the Government continues to pour money into investigating inter-island ferry connections.

The coastal shipping operator’s comments came in light of a recent Ministry of Transport disclosure that NZ$650,000 has been spent to date on multi-level analyses of a Clifford Bay ferry terminal -- excluding a 2011 Deloitte report.

“Transport decision-makers seem incapable of realising that long distance cargo shipped directly between existing North and South Island ports is by far the most productive way to move large volumes of freight,” he said.

“Taxpayer’s money frittered away on greenfield studies for a new ferry terminal would be better spent on facilitating investment in New Zealand’s coastal shipping capabilities.”

However, Interislander general manager Thomas Davis defended the studies, stating that shippers needed to be able to make decisions based on their particular cargo-types and time constraints.

Iain MacIntyre