The government is again looking at a plan to move the South Island ferry terminal from Picton to Clifford Bay, about 50km south of Picton. This is a shorter distance from Wellington to Christchurch. It would cut 110 minutes off the time by rail and 80 minutes off the time by road. The Minister of Transport said that the rebuild of Christchurch means that this is a good time to improve the links between the North and South Islands.
Although Cook Strait is only 24km at its most narrow part, the ferry travels 70km because it goes through the Marlborough Sounds. This is an attractive tourist journey but not so good for business. Eighty minutes less makes a difference, especially for commercial vehicles like trucks. A shorter time for rail transport is also important as most trains these days carry goods not passengers.
However, the cost of moving the ferry terminal would be about $400m. Clifford Bay would also need hotel accommodation, restaurants and other services. At the moment it is farm land.
The people of Picton are afraid they would lose a lot of business. The Minister of Transport said that Picton could become another Queenstown. It is a very attractive town.
Listen to May 13th 2011 to hear about this proposal last year.
Vocabulary
• ferry- a boat that goes back and forward between two places
• terminal – end place of a ship, train or bus
• link – connection between two things
• The Sounds – fingers of sea like a fiord
• proposal – plan
There is no doubt that it a very expensive project, hope businesses make the most of it and communities benefit with jobs and the easier flow of goods.
I had the privilege of enjoying the stunning scenery trip from Wellington to Picton more than a couple of times. Such a wonderful trip, that I have recommended it to many visitors to New Zealand. I am sure today, these people wouldn’t like this great experience to be shortened. I do agree that having a new Terminal that will shorten the distance between the Islands will be greatly beneficial, especially for the rebuild of Christchurch. But, being New Zealand, a country which enjoys a great profit from a well developed Tourism industry, I wonder, wouldn’t it be economically advantageous to consider the option of keeping the Terminal in Picton for tourism purposes or for the ‘long trip’ and perhaps set up just a smaller basic Terminal for business transport or for people wanting to do the ‘short trip’ in Clifford Bay? Jean-Pierre Coquelet,from Tauranga.
I have not been this trip ,so I can’t imagine how beatiful it is.The government is concentrating on the rebuilding of christchurh .My opinion is build a smaller terminal in clifford bay for who wants short cut,but we must keep terminal in picton for tourist.