PORT DEVELOPMENT.

Auckland Star, Issue 291, 9 December 1925, Page 10

PORT DEVELOPMENT.

HARBOUR BOARD'S SCHEME. I SIX NEW WHARVES. L ; RECLAMATIONS AND BOAT j HARBOUR. L -.". : TO COST £5,500,000.' l The construction of six large wharves, other facilities for smaller and up-river traffic, new ferry jetties, a boat harbour, and the completion of the reclamations are the dominant features in a scheme of harbour improvements submitted to the Auckland Harbour Board by the engineer, Mr. D. Holderness, yesterday afternoon. The total estimated cost of these development works is £3,500,000. Mr. Holderness pointed out that the extension of the harbour works in the past had not been commensurate with the growth of the population, trade and shipping, but the facilities offered had been able to meet the demands because of the increased efficiency of the berthage provided and the increased use of mechanical appliances. Most of the existing wharves at Auckland were already fully provided with economical and up-to-date equipment, and increased efficiency was to be obtained now rather in the provision of specialised accommodation for the receipt of bulk cargoes, and facilities for rapid loading of export cargoes, than in a more general extension on the lines of existing structures. Mr. Holderness then set out the scheme for this specialised accommodation, the whole of the various works recommended for the immediate and future developments being in the area tetween Point Erin Park and Campbell's Point. Bulk Oil and Coal. ; At the existing Western wharf, he proposes to provide for the bulk oil trade by its early extension for the- full extent of the inner arm, making this wharf 1578 feet. Of this, 500 of the inner would be usedf mainly by colliers' bringing coal for the Gas Company and the outer 1078 feet, would be for bulk oil. In 1924, approximately 75,000 tons of case oil passed .over the wharves in Auckland and the- whole of -this trade, together with the trade in pure oils,, which was hound to follow the establishment of the industry in Auckland, would be dealt with at these berths for many years to come. ... A Railway Wharf. Near the Campbell's Point area, a railway wharf was proposed, whjeh, equipped •with modern 'bulk-handling appliances, ■would be easily capable of dealing with 500 tons of cargo per'linear foot of quay per y annum. The /existing wharves, commented the engineer, although equipped with railways and admirably suited for the general purposes for which they were designed, could not be called "railway" wharves; It was proposed, therefore, to construct' an open wharf •with eight lines of track and having ample siding accommodation on shore in the vicinity,, at Mechanics' Bay, ing accommodation at. one time for four large, or six moderate-sized steamers. •'/ An Export Wharf. Provision was made immediately east of the proposed railway wharf for an export wharf, the main purpose of which would be for the. rapid loading of produce for export into overseas vessels. For this, the wharf would be equipped with ample storage accommodation, ■wool dumping and other necessary appliances, and provision made for a large cold storage warehouse on the reclamation : at the foot of the wharf, connected by overhead covered .way 'for the conveyance of frozen, produce from the warehouse to any of the berths. 'Such, a wharf, if worked to best advantage, would enable overseas vessels to load complete cargoes at Auckland in a minimum of time, thus saving the ■weeks of delay occasioned by the existing practice of calling at the smaller coastal ports and roadsteads fog small consignments of produce. General Purpose Wharves. In addition to the proposed specialised .accommodation provided at Western wharf, railway wharf and the export wharf, general purpose wharves of a design similar to Prince's wharf were provided, for as, follows:— (a) Between wharf and the proposed railway wharf. ■ (b) In the basin between Prince's •wharf and Western wharf. .'■,,». ' (c) As ah extension to Westorn whari over the.outer arm of the v Western Breakwater. The deep water available on.the inside of i. the Eastern. Breakwater would be utilised toy constructing a wharf over, the top of the rubble mound, having berthage on the inner protected side only, and providing adequate shed and railway accommodation. * •■ . ■ * The completion of Central -wharf to its full designed length will provide a very economical-and efficient addition to existing berthage. Reclamations. i The scheme provides for the completion of the reclamations at Mechanics' Bay, and between Hobson Street and (Freeman's Bay, as provided for in the original plans. i In addition to these areas, the proposals embody the <reclamation of about 251. acres immediately west of -the Western Breakwater for the purpose of providing additional factory sites. accommodation for bulk oil storage, and allotments with water frontage for shiptmilfting, timb-r milling, and other in- . auetriee requiring direct water access. *S tMlamation at Mechanics' Bay, KhittV WO v ld con »Plete the area east of a^orS/ 7 ° a ul4 P rovide a fur «l« ""rtth 3oooT° Ut 7 * acr es of allotments xo *cconßnod«+e *r. *»', wd «uch trad« COal, Bin - rc &- «J.WPtoxi m , te iyVx a«T * Tccl *niatlpn Mtk 1775 ttjfoj acres, MA ■ ■' • ■ "."■.-■■■-

the Eastern Breakwater, was proposed... There was also provision there for a certain amount of "free" or unleased berthage, for individual traders in these commodities, by the inclusion of a jetty 360 ft long and 100 ft wide. TJp-River Traffic. Two >jetties, immediately west of Prince's wharf, would provide for freight and passenger service in connection with , up-river settlement, and the islands and beaches in the Hauraki Gulf. In addition to this, a jetty east of King's wharf would provide for shallow draft vessels. • I Lay-up and Repair Wharf. A lay-up and repair wharf was suggested " immediately east of Western wharf. It would give accommodation for four boats at one time. . Inland Waterways..' , On the subject of inland waterways, the en"ine"er stated that to connect the Waitemata and Manukau harbours, and the Manukau Harbour and the Waikato River, would involve the construction" of little more, than eight miles of canals, and would present no engineering difficulties. , Railways to WharvesT In order to confine the concentrated traffic where whole cargoes were destined for railway transport, to an area where a minimum of inconvenience to vehicular and other traffic would be caused, the railway and export wharves had been located on the eastern waterfront, and a very large proportion of the total rail traffic would be concentrated in this area. Except over the area v already constructed from King's to Prince's wharves, railway sidings had been kept off the public thoroughfares and witliin the dock gates.. ■ , • Twenty-five Years' Programme. Discussing the rate of construction and the order of the work, the engineer said this would naturally depend on the requirements of the- port as they might develop. At the same time it . was desirable to anticipate requirements a reasonable distance ahead. If the growth of the trade of the port was to tinue at the rate that it had done during the past twenty years, and there appeared to be •no reason why it should riot do so for a considerable distance to ome, and provided the maximum facility of bertliage li'ad already been obtained, then the whole of the works provided for would require to be completed within twenty-five years. Last week every berth in the harbour was occupied, and further accommodation must be provided immediately to prevent delays. In addition to the 580 feet of Western wharf extension, for which the purchase of steel was recently authorised, the remaining 230 feet recommended at that time . should be proceeded with in time to ensure continuous construction. Other works recommended to be put in hand immediately are the Railway wharf and the breastwork between this and King's wharf, which was necessary to enable the railway connections and sidings to be constructed..-, These two works would take from two and a-half to three years to complete, and if authorised at once could not be constructed before theberthage thus provided would be urgently required. , . . The. breakwater from Point Erin should be commenced at once, so that protection from westerly galee would be available when it became necessary to instal the new vehicular ferry at Freeman's Bay. "Railway connection along the waterfront to Freeman's Bay by means of the viaduct could only be-made after the removal of the existing vehicular ferry, and it was recommended that the construction of the viaduct; should follow .immediately on the completion of the work at Western wharf. The construction of/ the, two vehicular ferries would then enable the railway for Prince's wharf, and. the connection to Freeman's Bay, to be made. Among the early works should be J£ eluded the, breastwork in front of the. proposed. site ; for new workshops, and store in Mechanics' .Bay. The existing buildings ami site -were already overtaxed, while the work to fee done was steadily expanding, and as part °rthe proposed site still required filling w, it could not be commenced too soon. The above works, involving an expenditure of approximately £875,000, which included dredging operations, should be sufficient to meet the requirement,! ,pf -the port for, say, five years. This was equivalent ; to an annual expenditure of £175,000. Detailed Items of Cost. Based on to-day's, prices, the engineer estimates that the cost of the "works provided for in'his report would be approxi•mately; £d J SO0 J ,OOp 1 made up |# ftUowe:

£ Extension to Western Whnrf .. 60,000 Viaduct to Preeuinu"s Bny .... 1)0,000 Breastwork; King's to Railway Wharf 125.0.00 Railway Wharf and Equipment 1270,000 Pleasure Boat Harbour —Breakwater only 50,000 Reclamation west of Western Breakwater . ..; 150,000 Breastwork from Eastern Breakwater to Waterfront Allotments 32,000 New A.H.B. Workshops, Stores and Equipment .*>... 40.000 Two Vehicular Ferry Landings 40,000 New Perry Wharf, Devouport .. ,- 50,000 Completion of Western Breakwnter 50,000 Completion of Central Wharf and Equipment 135,000 "General Purpose Wharf (east of King's Wharf), and Equipment 545,000 Administrative Offices 250,000 Customs Examination Accommodation and A.H.B. Bond . . f>o.ooo Export Wharf and Equipment 580,000 Cool Store ;..... 200,000 Lay-by and Repair Wharf and Equipment 45.000 Warehouse, Quay St. Landings 120,000 Completion of Mechanic's Bay Reclamation 73,000 Additional Accommodation at Ferries 10,000 Two Jetties for Local Freight and Passenger • Services .... 70,000 Reclaniation'fromllobaou- Street - to Ilfllsey Street .......... 220,000 General Cnrpq Wharf west of Prince's Wharf and EquiyhVpift 550,000 Wharf over Outer. Arm Western Breakwater and Equipment, 680,000 Wharf over Kastcrn Breakwater . and Equipment 525,000 Jetty for Shallow Draft Vessels (west of Ea'stqrn Breakwater) 26,000 Jetty for Shallow Draft Vessels (past of King's Wharf) .... 33,000 Gates and Fences 40,000 Completion of 200-ton Slipway 5.000 New Ferry Wharf, Northcote . . 40.000 New Tug : ... 30,000 Roading Existing Reclamation, Mechanics' Bay 35,000 Reclamation for Allotments with Water Frontage ;.. 75,000 5,10G,000 Plant and Contingencies .. 304,000 £5,500,000