Growth Of A Port

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31976, 1 May 1969, Page 10

Growth Of A Port

Port Nelson is booming. From the mainly coastal port of a few years ago, Port Nelson has become an overseas port of national importance.

It is not unusual to see three overseas ships and an inter-colonial ship in port at one time; in fact, on one day recently, the flags of five nations flew from ships at Port Nelson. A scheme has now been prepared for the reclamation and development of Nelson Haven, an area of tidal mudflats lying to the north-east of the city. For the year ended September 30, 1968, the port handled a record total of 325,000 tons. For the last six months—to March 31, 1969—the total is 230,000 tons, an increase of 40 per cent on the same period last year.. This year’s total will be well over 400,000 tons. There are many reasons for this rapid growth. Nelson’s place as the principal export port for apples and pears is freely acknowledged. i In 1949 the volume of production of fruit in the Nelson district was 761,000 bushels. In 1968, the pro-

duction was 2,590,400 bushels. Nelson is the only distribution centre for petrol and oil to serve the whole of the northern portion of the South Island. Last year, the quantity handled was 77,000 tons. By relating this figure to expected population growth and increases in both primary and secondary industries, this could jump to 113,000 tons during the next decade. Timber and wood matter is likely to prove the most significant factor in the growth of Port Nelson. Log exports to Japan for the year ended March 31, 1969, have exceeded 150,000 tons, an amazing increase on the total exports, in logs and sawn timber, of 21,000 tons for the previous year. Logging Trucks Convoys of heavily-laden logging trucks are now a common sight on the main road to the port; and later this year these will be joined by trucks carrying wood chips from the chip mill being built at Richmond. The export of wood chips arises from a 7-year contract let to Nelson Pine Forests, Ltd.