PORT MARLBOROUGH NEW ZEALAND LTD & KIWIRAIL HOLDINGS LTD & MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT COUNCIL WAITOHI PICTON FERRY PRECINCT REDEVELOPMENT Summary of Applications 21 December 2020 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Introduction ___________________________________________________________ 1 2. Background __________________________________________________________ 2 2.1 History and Background 2 2.2 KiwiRail Objectives 3 2.3 Port Marlborough Objectives 5 3. Description of the Site and Surrounding Area ________________________________ 7 3.1 Overview of the Site 8 3.2 Surrounding Area 9 4. Project Description _____________________________________________________ 11 4.1 Key Outcomes of the Precinct Redevelopment 11 4.2 Ferry Terminal Works 12 4.3 Works within the Coastal Marine Area 13 4.4 Works within the Rail Yard 15 4.5 Works within Roads 16 4.6 Construction Staging of Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct 16 5. Statutory Context and Requirements_______________________________________ 17 5.1 The COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 17 5.2 Consenting Strategy under the CRA and RMA 18 5.3 Consenting Requirements 19 6. Overview of the Applications _____________________________________________ 19 6.1 Outline Plan of Works 1A – KiwiRail Works within Railway Designation 20 6.2 Outline Plan of Works 1B – MDC Works within Roads 21 6.3 Resource consent 2A – Port Marlborough Terminal Works 22 6.4 Resource Consent 2B – KiwiRail Retaining Wall 23 6.5 Resource Consent 2C – Accessways and Works Over the Waitohi Awa 23 7. Consultation and Community Engagement _________________________________ 24 7.1 Summary of the Consultation and Community Engagement Undertaken 24 7.2 Consultation Phases 24 8. Technical Inputs ______________________________________________________ 29 9. Mitigation and Conditions of Consent _____________________________________ 32 Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment – Summary of Applications LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment Consenting Packages 1 Figure 2: Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment 2 Figure 3: Waitohi Picton Ferry Redevelopment Site 8 Figure 4: Area Surrounding Port Redevelopment Site 10 Figure 5: Proposed Ferry Terminal Building 13 Figure 6: Linkspans, Wharf and Pedestrian Walkway 14 Figure 7: Anticipated Construction Programme 17 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Precinct Redevelopment within Schedule 2 of the CRA 18 Table 2: List of Technical Reports 29 Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment – Summary of Applications REPORT INFORMATION Report Status Final Our Reference MDL000683 / MDL001339 File Location Dunedin Author Lisa Thorne – Associate Review By Louise Taylor - Director Version Number 8 Version Date 21.12.20 © Mitchell Daysh Limited (2020). This document and its contents are the property of Mitchell Daysh Limited. Any unauthorised employment or reproduction, in full or in part, is forbidden. Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment – Summary of Applications 1. INTRODUCTION The Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment (“precinct redevelopment” or “project”) seeks to comprehensively redevelop the ferry precinct and associated infrastructure at Waitohi Picton. The project will occur over a staged, three to four year (approx.) timeframe so that it is ready for new ships in 2024. Ferry and rail services will be maintained while the redevelopment is occurring. This project forms part of KiwiRail’s Interisland Resilient Connection Programme (“iReX”) to improve the delivery of freight services across Cook Strait and integrate these with existing road and rail networks in the North and South Islands. This report provides a summary of the resource consents and outline plans of works (“OPW”) submitted by Port Marlborough New Zealand Ltd (“Port Marlborough”), KiwiRail Holdings Limited (“KiwiRail”) and Marlborough District Council (“MDC”) for the precinct redevelopment. The precinct redevelopment is a listed project in accordance with Schedule 2 of the COVID-19 Recovery (Fast-track Consenting) Act 2020 (“CRA”). Three resource consents are sought under the CRA and will be considered by a Panel appointed by the Environmental Protection Authority (“EPA”). Two OPWs are to be submitted to MDC for the project works within the parts of the site which comprise the KiwiRail designation and MDC roading designation. These OPWs are submitted under the Resource Management Act 1991 (“RMA”). The figure below illustrates the applications and how they fit together as a comprehensive consenting package. Planning Applications for Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment 1A KiwiRail 1B MDC 2A PMNZ 2B KiwiRail 2C MDC OPW for works OPW & RC application RC application RC application within the designation for the terminal for retaining for Dublin Street KiwiRail alteration for the redevelopment & wall along the overbridge & Designation Dublin Street all earthworks, bank of the new Auckland overbridge & laydowns & the Waitohi Awa Street property road upgrades Waitohi culvert accesses Figure 1: Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment Consenting Packages Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment – Summary of Applications 1 Figure 2 below illustrates the proposed precinct redevelopment: Figure 2: Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment (from WSP plan C-1001 Revision M) 2. BACKGROUND An overview of the history and background to the project, Port Marlborough, and KiwiRail is provided below. 2.1 HISTORY AND BACKGROUND KiwiRail’s Interisland ferries are extensions of State Highway 1 and the main trunk line across Cook Strait, linking road and rail networks between the North and South Islands. The first railway in New Zealand was constructed in 1862. 100 years later, the first roll-on roll-off rail and vehicle ferry began service between Waitohi Picton and Wellington in 1962. From 1972, the first freight-only ferries joined the Cook Strait fleet. KiwiRail currently operates three Interislander ferries carrying passengers and freight: the Kaiarahi, Kaitaki and the rail-enabled Aratere. Bluebridge ferries operated by StraitNZ also carry freight and passengers across Cook Strait. All road and rail freight between the North and South Islands travels through Waitohi Picton via the Cook Strait Ferry operators. Between them, more than one million passengers each year travel between Wellington and Waitohi Picton. Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment – Summary of Applications 2 The port at Waitohi Picton has expanded incrementally since the 1800s, with the establishment of the Marlborough Harbour Board in 1958 ahead of commencement of the roll-on roll-off ferries in 1962, and the growth of commercial, export and tourism businesses at and in the vicinity of the port. Port Marlborough replaced the Marlborough Harbour Board in 1988. The ships in the Interislander fleet are reaching the end of their useful lives. Two new large rail-enabled ferries are anticipated to be progressively operational servicing Cook Strait from 2024. The precinct redevelopment will therefore cater for the new ships and the required upgrading of infrastructure and facilities associated with the increased freight, car and passenger numbers. This will provide improved facilities and efficiency for current demand, and future-proof for longer term growth in both passenger numbers and freight. It will also enable cruise ships to berth at the new facility. 2.2 KIWIRAIL OBJECTIVES iRex Programme Description The iReX Programme is focused on ensuring continued delivery of freight services across Cook Strait and integration of these with existing rail corridors and State Highway networks in the North and South Islands. The project involves replacing the existing Interislander ferry fleet with two new bespoke rail enabled ships, and construction of new infrastructure at each of the Wellington and Waitohi Picton terminals to support the ships and rail operations. The iReX Programme is a vital part of delivering KiwiRail’s purpose of ‘Stronger Connections’, ‘Better New Zealand’ and links to the Future of Rail Review and emerging draft NZ Rail Plan demonstrate the importance to New Zealand of enhancing the capability and resilience of the Cook Strait ferries, and particularly rail freight services between the North and South Islands. The current ships and terminals are nearing the end of their serviceable lives and have insufficient capacity to meet growing market demand. Currently, Interislander operates a fleet of three ferries, moving some 800,000 passengers and up to $14 billion worth of road and rail freight between the North and South Islands each year. New Ships The new ships will each have the capacity for around 1,900 passengers and at least 3,600 lane meters of vehicles, including the ability to carry 40 x 60-foot rail wagons, which is significantly more capacity than each of the three current ships. The new ships will therefore provide capacity for current demand that cannot presently be met, as well as projected future growth. The new ships are expected to enter service in 2024, up to nine Waitohi Picton Ferry Precinct Redevelopment – Summary of Applications 3 months apart due to build phasing, at which time Interislander’s current fleet will be progressively phased out. KiwiRail intends to retain the new ships for their whole economic lives of 30 years. The two new ferries will be technologically advanced, have significantly lower emissions, a greater carrying capacity – including rail wagons – and provide an enhanced visitor experience. Need for New Terminal Port infrastructure used by the ferries at Waitohi Picton terminal