Ambitious Plan For New Sea Terminal

Press, Volume C, Issue 29557, 5 July 1961, Page 11

Ambitious Plan For New Sea Terminal

“The Press" Special Service

WELLINGTON, July 4. An elaborate, comprehensive £720.000 overseas passenger terminal at Clyde quay wharf has been approved by the Wellington Harbour Board. The terminal incorporates a restaurant and escalators Plus enclosed waiting and other facilities for passengers and friends, said the board's chief engineer (Mr T>. S. G. Marchbanks). The nlan showed the benefit of the experience of the chairman <Mr B. E. Keiller) in studying overseas terminals. said Mr E. R. Toon. The plan was “bold and imaginative,” said Mr F. J. Kitts. Mr J. Cable said that the use of Clvde quay wharf for the terminal was a much better proposition for traffic and parking than the original idea to use Queen's Wharf. The new terminal, which will lengthen the present wharf bv 300 ft and double its width, was annroved by the board on the recommendation of its port development committee. Plans Changed Since annroval in March plans for the construction of an overseas passenger terminal at Clyde quav wharf had been under discussion with interested parties and had been altered, said Mr Marchbanks. Th" oo«t had in'reared by £185.000 to £720000. Although the board had approved the construction of passenger facilities and a cargo at Clvde ouav to cost £535000. it was now evident that passenger” should now land on the *nr storey instead of on the deck as originally proposed. sa ; d Mr Marchbanks. The terminal building design would use the top floor for landing passengers passenger reception and space for visitors, and the deck of the wharf for passenger recaption, Customs

inspection and luggage storage Stalls and booking offices were provided in the passenger reception area downstairs and a cafeteria upstairs. Up and down escalators, a lift and stairs were provided from the lower reception space to the upper reception area. Heating The two reception areas would be heated. The building would be 692 ft long by 56ft wide at the wharf deck, said Mr Marchbanks. On the top deck there would be a 10ft wide veranda along the sides, and the enclosed area, excluding facilities for waterside workers, would be 488 ft by 36ft. The plan envisaged the terminal completed bv mid--1964. said Mr Marchbanks Special gangways to land Passengers on to the too deck on to the wharf would be necessary. The tynes used bv the Auck’and Harbour Board and the Fremantle Trust Board were being investigated. To deenen the berth to an initial 34ft would require removal nf 120.000 yards. A* present the wharf had 26ft of water on the east side and 29ft on the west. Some of the dredging could be done by the Xerimoana. but it was expected that to complete the work another dredge would be needed. That might be hired from another board, or the work done by letting a contract.