8 April 2011

A Nelson lobby group has launched a plan to have logs barged from Rabbit Island, to the west of the city, to Port Nelson as a way to get logging trucks removed from suburban arterial roads. This would involve diverting trucks carrying export logs from the south of Nelson to a purpose-built depot on the island.

According to a report in the Nelson Mail, Nelsust convenor Peter Olorenshaw said the group is asking the Nelson and Tasman councils and its port company to commission a fuller study. The plan does not address logs trucked to the port via State Highway 6 at north Nelson and Atawhai.

"Our aim is to take 35,000 log trucks a year off these roads, factoring in return trips. While we are not pretending this is all or even most of the heavy traffic on these roads, it is 35,000 of the most intimidating trucks."

The plan would involve $7.3 million in barge purchase and infrastructure development, including construction of a floating wharf at Rabbit Island and a specialised tug capable of barging logs in rough sea conditions.

This is less than a quarter of the cost of a proposed southern link road which the lobby group is opposed to.

"Log barging could get 35,000 of the most intimidating trucks off Tahunanui and Rocks roads without shifting them over the hill and through another urban community," Mr Olorenshaw said.

The proposal has attracted a vigorous debate on the Nelson Mail website, with one responder pointing out that the proposal did not make economic sense and would result in double handling and delays.

'You say in your report that 2008/9 export was 726,127  t and that each ship is taking out 11,000 t, so that's 66 ships/yr. You said a two day turnaround, so that's 132 days/yr loading ships. The flow rate while loading is therefore 5,500 t/day. The bush crews and the trucks work 240 days per year or more, so the flow rate out of the forest is only about 3,000 t/day or less. This means you have to stockpile to get ready for the ship.

"It isn't feasible just hold all the stock on skids in the forest and open up the taps when a boat is in port. Firstly, the skids in the bush aren't big enough, secondly weather conditions can prevent you getting access when you need it and thirdly, the trucking companies don't want to own a fleet twice the size and work it half the time (when a boat is in port).

"Keeping a consistent flow out of logs of the forest allows the product to be marshalled at the wharf into the correct log grades, lengths, suppliers' and customers' stock, so that when a boat turns up, they can go hard-out loading without interruptions and uncontrollable delays. When the logs are sitting stockpiled beside your boat, there's not too many things that can go wrong."

Source: Nelson Mail website