DEVELOPMENT OF AOTEA QUAY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 152, 23 March 1939, Page 10

DEVELOPMENT OF AOTEA QUAY

Six Cranes Ordered

PLANS FOR FUTURE PORT

EXTENSION

Six electric crimes similar to the two on the Queen's Wharf are to be erected on Aotea Quay, said the chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. C. M. Turrell, at its annual meeting last night, in speaking of the board’s plans for the extension of wharves, stores and cargo-handling equipment. The needs of the port for overseas trade should be met by the progressive development of the Aotea Quay breastwork, now almost completed, be said.

The port development committee set up by the board hud met on a number of occasions, and a comprehensive plan was being prepared to cover the requirements of the port for a number of years ahead, he said. That meant a good deal of preparatory work involving consultation with shipping and other interests concerned. On the committee’s recommendation, it was decided to expedite as far as possible the completion of the new concrete store (No. 49) on 2\otea Quay, so that full use could be made of the splendid berthage already available there. The building of the store was well under way and a contract had been let for the supply and erection of the structural steel work Of the roof and crane tracks. Six outside electric cranes, similar to the two on the Queen’s Wharf, had been ordered for early delivery, together with 10 inside electric overhead cranes which would be erected in the store for the handling of goods. The new store would have about the same capacity for storing cargo as the Pipitea store, and should be in lull use during the next export season. It had not been built before it was needed. “The needs of the port for overseas trade should be met. by the progressive development of the Aotea Quay breastwork now almost completed,” Mr. Turrell said. “There is here more than 2000 feet of berthage with a depth of 35 feet at low water, and all that will be required is tlie construction, as occasion warrants, of cargo stores with the installation of the usual cargo handling cranes.

“One feature that should appeal to the mercantile community is that stores built along this breastwork arc served by a road controlled by the board, the Dock Road, which will always allow wheeled traffic to use the breastwork and stores without interference by ordinary city traffic. I-or this reason the It arbour board opposed the suggestions made that this dock road, with its railway reserve for siding purposes, should be reduced in width.”