Eastland Port

  • Major projects completed
  • Record tonnage through port
  • Well placed for the future
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It has been another impressive year for the Port, with total export volumes achieving a significant milestone for the operation through a new record of 1.5 million tonnes and an increase of more than 300,000 tonnes on the previous year.

This improved export volume resulted in EBIT reaching $8.1 million, versus $5.4 million the previous year. Again the forestry sector was the leading light with over 97% of the Port’s export volume leaving as whole logs, on the back of continued strong demand from the Chinese market in particular.

Local forestry companies continued to ramp up their harvests, as a buoyant log market combines with a forest resource that is rapidly reaching maturity.

The Port continues to work hard with its customers to ensure fit-for- purpose infrastructure is available. The establishment of the Port Users’ Efficiency Group has had a significant impact on the flow of log traffic into the Port, with a concerted effort from the supply chain as a whole to move trucks out of peak times and into extended operational hours.

The past year saw a significant uplift in the Port’s other key exports, with plywood up 62%, squash exports 32% and kiwifruit 26% ahead of the previous year - all of which was extremely encouraging.

2010-2011 also saw the completion of a number of key projects for the Port,

including the refurbishment of Wharf 3 in the Inner Harbour basin as part of the Port’s Asset Management Plan, as well as work started on the refurbishment of the inner breakwater.

The year was a busy one on the Port for development as it continued to build capacity to meet the growing demands of the forestry industry. The completion

FORESTRY COMPANIES CONTINUED TO RAMP UP THEIR HARVESTS, AS A BUOYANT LOG MARKET COMBINES WITH A FOREST RESOURCE THAT IS RAPIDLY REACHING MATURITY.

of three hectares of hardstand at Dunstan Road means the Port has been able to move away from the old airport log yard to a purpose built facility, capable of storing around 30,000 tonnes of logs. Stage two of this project is now underway, with the development of a new satellite scaling station facility, along with a weighbridge and gantry crane.

The completed facility will provide both operational flexibility and a level of redundancy for the Port operations.

The other significant project started during the year was the asphalting of the Port’s main log yard. On completion the project will see all 6.5 hectares of the area asphalted and drained through a state-of-the-art storm water treatment system. It is expected the completed yard will be able to accommodate around 8% more product than the existing surface through gains in operational efficiency. The asphalt will also lead to better ship loading rates with much improved transit times for shuttle trucks.

During the year the Port undertook several sponsorship programs including a planting day on Kaiti Hill and delivery of free bark mulch to schools involved in the Enviroschools programme.

The year ahead will no doubt be an interesting one as the region continues to grow its forest harvesting capacity, with several new players planning to begin exports from the Port in the next 12 months. The Port is now well positioned to cope with another surge in volume, with a number of its key projects geared toward building increased capacity. This combined with a Port team who are outcome driven and customer-focused, ensures the business is well place to meet the growing export needs of the Tairawhiti region.