CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941 — Page 71

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85. I have been impressed not only by the great natural advantages of the Harbour, but by the enterprise of the members of the business community of the Port; they seem to be worthily carrying on the tradition handed down by their predecessors who, by courage and foresight, securely laid the foundations of this thriving Colony which is so valuable an asset to the Empire. I have no doubt that the same spirit will be brought to bear in connexion with the proposed Harbour Trust with the result that in due time, after the existing world troubles are over, there should be still greater prosperity in store for the Colony.

Future Development.

86. As the terms of my reference embrace the future development of the Port, I must deal with several matters concerning such develop- ment which have been brought under my notice during the Inquiry.

87. PIERS. As already stated, while the piers for the large ocean-going vessels have been maintained in a satisfactory condition there are several of those used by local shipping that are in a bad state. These bad piers are mostly situated on the water front in Victoria between Murray Road and Queen Street.

88. Mr. Nicol has prepared a plan showing a scheme for the widening of Connaught Road between the two points mentioned, and the construction of about 17 new piers, some intended for the shipping trade and ferry boats and others for official purposes. Apart from the necessity for new piers to replace the more or less derelict ones, Connaught Road has become very congested with traffic and should be widened sooner or later. Without destruction of property, this widening can only be accomplished on the water side, that is, by reclamation of land from the water. The scheme has the advantage that it effects this widening by a narrow reclamation, in addition to providing for the building of new and improved piers. It includes also a more extensive reclamation between Murray Road and Queen Victoria Street. The roughly estimated cost of that portion of the scheme between Queen Street and Queen Victoria Street is $7,500,000 and of the remainder $2,700,000, making a total of $10,200,000. This is a bold scheme but an eminently desirable one and one that I recommend for carrying out as soon as practicable. In this I have the advantage of Mr. Kennedy's engineering advice. I may add that the premium on the sale of the land reclaimed between Queen Victoria Street and Murray Road is likely to be more than the cost of the whole scheme.

89. If the proposed Harbour Trust is to be created, this scheme would of course go before them for their approval. The Trustees from their own local knowledge would be quite able to subject it to proper ariticism. I can only suggest the policy to be adopted in relation to it. The old piers that would be displaced are also shown on the plan. The leases for those piers expire with the others in the Port in 1949. The lessees would be informed of the scheme and their leases renewed on very short terms with the intimation that when a new pier was ready for them they could rent it at a certain rental. Such rental would be based on a sum representing a small interest on the capital cost of the individual pier, plus the estimated cost of maintenance and a percentage on capital cost to oover depreciation. The total rent which the occupier would be called upon to pay therefore, should not put him in a worse

If financial position than he would be in if he built the pier himself. any pier lessee wished to re-build his own pier on the lines shown on the plan I cannot see that there could be any objection, in which case he would be called upon to pay a similar amount of rent to that charged to the others who built their own piers.