News

Port a valuable community asset

The Eastland Community Trust has invested in the Eastland Port through its subsidiary the Eastland Group. The port is an integral link in the East Coast supply chain offering efficient export and transport opportunities.

It contributes to the community in many ways, through offering exporters shipping options right down to employing 65 people and paying salaries into the community of up to $2.5million per year.
We put some questions and answers to the port company to understand what gains it had made since it was bought in 2004 and what plans it had for the future.

How much was the Port bought for?

• $16 million.

What's the Port worth today?

• $67.7 million.

What's the difference in export volume between then and now?

• 2003/04 = 481,000 tons.
• 2008/09 = 735,000 tons.
• 2009/10 forecast = over 800,000 tons.

How many people does the Port employ and what amount does this put into the community in terms of salaries?

• 65 staff across all organisations working for the port- roughly $2.5 million in wages.

What investment has been made in capital and repair and maintenance?

• Capital Expenditure $14 million.
• Repair and Maintenance $650k/year on average.

What opportunities have been realised as a result of that investment?

• Kiwifruit exports started.
• Storage and handling of Heinz Watties product 
from Cedenco.
• All heavy traffic diverted out of the inner harbour area.
• Facilitating control of the entire inner harbour area.
• Freezing works office redevelopment - Soho and Hunting and Fishing.
• Shed 3 redevelopment.
• Added value processing opportunity on port for local exporters.
• Pukunui dredge upgrade.
• Boat lift facility.

Where do further opportunities lie?

• Log exports forecast to increase to 1.7 million tons by 2020.
• Handling the regions' added value timber products.
• Coastal shipping of value added product.

What would happen if we did not have a port?

• Forestry as an industry on the East Coast would stop. It would be uneconomic to transport logs to Tauranga or Napier from the majority of the regions' forests.

Are there any plans for further investment?

• The port has recently completed its asset management plan, which sets out required maintenance over the next 10 years - estimated value $16 million.
• Port development plan completed, which will require $30 million over the next eight years. This investment will be staged as volumes grow to meet customer demand.