Grey Harbour Board expresses concern

Press, 20 September 1980, Page 11

Grey Harbour Board expresses concern

The initial reaction of the Greymouth Harbour Board to the release of a study document, discussing various alternatives for the export of West Coast coal, was one of “surprise and considerable concern,” said the chairman of the board, Mr J. J. T. O’Brien. “The conclusion must be drawn that the study should have been titled ‘The export options of Buller coal,’ the evidence being heavily weighed toward the conclusion that the off-shore mono-moor-ing buoy and slurrypumping system is the superior option,” he said. “Coal is seen as the catalyst which would unlock the region’s future development options. Parallel with this must be the provision of a multi-pur-poses deep-water loading facility. It is known that there is some 200 million tonnes of coal in the Pike River, Mount Davy, and Rapahoe areas, with volumes being added as the present drilling programme continues,” said Mr O’Brien.

A recent study in the United States, directed by a professor from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, envisaged a trebling of coal use and a 10-to-15-fold increase in world steam coal trade during the next 20 years. This would require a 5 per cent increase in coal production which already supplied a quarter of the world’s energy.

“Although six harbour boards in various parts of New Zealand were canvassed for their views and

comment, the Greymouth Harbour Board was strangely neither asked nor invited to make any contribution,” said Mr O’Brien.

“Some months ago, the board engaged consultants to undertake and collate an in-depth resource survey} seeing this as the first of a number of necessary steps leading to the best decision for the longterm interests and benefit of the West Coast generally.” While the South Island had six main ports, the West Coast with its recognised potential and area — roughly a sixth of New Zealand — lacked any such facility, said Mr O’Brien.

“The board cannot escape the conclusion that the mono-mooring buoy system has been considerably under-costed, while

the multi-purpose harbour option has been unduly exaggerated.” A recent study by the board’s consulting engineers, Morris and Wilson, of a proposal at Point Elizabeth gave an estimated cost of $B5 million with berthing facilities for 50,000-tonne ships. “The method of construction envisaged is a rubble-rounded breakwater armoured with stone varied to a maximum of 20 tonnes. That this method is effective is amply demonstrated by the strength and stability of both the Westport and Greymouth tipheads. “The last thing that the West Coast needs in 20 years time is more rusty, wom-out pipes and empty holes in the hills. Should that come to pass our future will indeed be bleak,” Mr O’Brien said.