16 Apr 2013

No decision on Auckland port expansion

6:52 pm on 16 April 2013

Auckland councillors have put off endorsing a plan to expand the city's port until they hear more from the people of Auckland.

The port company met with strong public opposition when it announced plans last year to extend Bledisloe Wharf by 300 metres and reclaim 22 hectares of land in Waitemata harbour.

Earlier this month, the company scaled back its plans, reducing the reclamation area to 6.6 hectares and the wharf extension to 180 metres.

An Auckland Council committee was supposed to decide on Tuesday whether it would endorse the company's preferred option.

But councillors have instead voted to not endorse any plans until August, when the port company has had a chance to find out what people in the city think of the plans.