MARLBOROUGH’S BID FOR COAST BARGE TRAFFIC

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32778, 1 December 1971, Page 1

MARLBOROUGH’S BID FOR COAST BARGE TRAFFIC

(Nev: .' '•• d Press Association) WESTPORT, November 30. The Marlborough Harbour Board is interested in shipping West Coast natural resources by tug and barge from Westport and Greymouth to Picton, for transhipment to ocean* going vessels.

The proposal was put to the Buller Joint Committee and the Greymouth Harbour Board at meetings in Westport and Greymouth- yesterday.

A delegation from the Marlborough Harbour Board, led by its chairman (Mr W. B. Parker), said that facilities would be built at Picton to cater for a tug and barge system carrying coal, wood

products, and ilmenite from West Coast ports. The board had commissioned a firm of consulting engineers to complete a feasibility study of the scheme. The firm concluded that a tug and barge system was suitable and attractive to serve prospective bulk produce exported from the west Coast for transhipment at Picton. It asserted that the operating costs would be less than other systems, while the amount of public capital investment would also be lower than alternatives. This service would also have benefits to the West

Coast not available from the rail alternative to Lyttelton, the report said. The committee of officials set up by the Government, which reported on West Coast development proposals earlier this year, was in favour of railing coal, ilmenite, and wood products to Lyttelton. The Buller Joint Committee does not agree with this proposal, and has been negotiating with the Nelson Harbour Board for a tug and barge service between Westport and Nelson.

The Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Shelton) is waiting for a report on barging costs. However, the Marlborough Harbour Board’s consulting engineers say that Picton is more suitable because depths there would allow the harbour to cater for colliers with little capital expenditure.

The report also said that coal-handling facilities could be built at Westport for about $200,000, and at Greymouth for sjm.