Simon Bridges
CentrePort has invested in a new regional hub in the Wairarapa. Source: Timberbiz
The Waingawa log hub, near Masterton, supports the fast growing and valuable forestry sector through a reliable and cost effective transport connection, ensuring exporters remain internationally competitive.
Transport Minister Simon Bridges officially opened the venture.
The project is the result of a successful partnership between Wellington’s port company CentrePort, Forest Enterprises Limited and Farman Turkington Forestry with the support of KiwiRail.
It is served by daily KiwiRail freight trains, connecting the Wairarapa region to CentrePort and to the world.
The development follows a period of sustained growth for the log trade in the Lower North Island.
Log volumes through CentrePort have grown by nearly 100% in the last five years, with further increases forecasted as a large volume of trees in the region reach maturity.
“The Waingawa log hub offers regional log exporters a sustainable, reliable, economic way of moving large volumes of logs to the port,” CentrePort Chief Executive, Derek Nind said.
“Part of our long-term strategy is to invest in infrastructure, develop strategic partnerships and create seamless road and rail connections from the hinterland to our seaport.
“This will help unlock the potential of Central New Zealand.”
“This is a great example of road and rail integration,” KiwiRail’s Group General Manager for Sales and Commercial Alan Piper said.
“Using Waingawa as a staging point for logs means that they can then be moved efficiently through to CentrePort on rail. I am certain the regular users of the Rimutaka Hill Road will appreciate the benefits that avoiding over 16,000 more truck trips on this stretch of road will have.”
Managing Director of Forest Enterprises, Steve Wilton said:“CentrePort’s investment in the hub has provided an efficient, secure and long term logistics channel to the port which is vital to our ability to successfully harvest in the Wairarapa.
“This is why we have taken a long term lease of approximately 50% of the footprint at Waingawa, complementing our long term commitment to log storage at CentrePort.”
Farman Turkington Forestry Partner Guy Farman said that the commitment shown by CentrePort, as well as all the other stakeholders to make this hub work has been extremely pleasing.
“It’s been really satisfying to see the hub and the port develop over the last few years,” he said. “It’s certainly given us the confidence to take a long term lease at the Waingawa hub and expand our operations.”
In 2015 CentrePort, with its customers and service providers, contributed NZ$2.5 billion to New Zealand’s GDP, 39% higher than in 2009. This contribution is increasing each year.
Since 2009 CentrePort’s cargo volume has increased by 25%.
The Government has the objective of doubling the value of primary industry exports by 2025.
Greater Wellington Regional Council Regional Council Chair Chris Laidlaw has welcomed the opening of Centreport’s new Waingawa log hub, saying it will deliver benefits for the regional economy, motorists, and the environment.
The hub, near Masterton, will provide a reliable, cost-effective transport connection from the Wairarapa to Centreport and beyond, with a rail connection served daily by KiwiRail freight trains.
“The new road-rail hub is a real regional win-win. It will take logging trucks off the Rimutaka hill road, and that will be a huge relief to motorists,” Mr Laidlaw said.
“It will also mean a significant reduction in emissions in this region, with a big decrease in the number of log trucks.
“The road will much be less congested and safer to drive, and the hub will provide a fast, secure, direct link to the port, helping our exporters remain internationally competitive.
“This new hub is a vote of confidence in the lower North Island’s log trade — Centreport has seen an alomost 100% increase in log volumes in the last five years.
“It’s also a great step forward in creating a network of sustainable, low-emission transport options for people and freight across Greater Wellington.”
The Waingawa hub is a partnership between Forest Enterprises Limited, Farman Turkington Forestry, and Wellington’s port company Centreport, which is majority-owned by the regional council.
