Current Projects - Lyttelton Port Company

Te Awaparahi Bay reclamation next phase

The Te Awaparahi Bay reclamation project is a critical initiative for the future of Lyttelton Port and the wider Canterbury and South Island economy.

As we approach our container berth capacity, expanding our infrastructure is essential to meet the growing demands of the New Zealand supply chain.

Our current modelling indicates that by 2029-30, we will no longer be able to berth enough vessels of sufficient capacity to keep up with these demands.

The initial 10ha of the Te Awaparahi Bay reclamation project was completed in 2019. The next stage, totalling six hectares, was completed in December 2020. This current stage, totalling seven hectares, is expected to take two years to complete.

This project will enable Lyttelton to handle up to 850,000 TEU per year and accommodate the largest vessels that visit New Zealand, solidifying our position as the South Island’s main hub port.

The reclamation work is a continuation of the Port Lyttelton Recovery Plan, a statutory document under the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Act 2011, and has been fully consented since January 2018.

Environmental management

The reclamation is being carried out under a comprehensive construction environmental plan and a sustainability framework based on international best practices developed specifically for the Te Awaparahi Bay project. We understand the community’s environmental concerns.

LPC undertook a partner-led programme for kaimoana and other species relocation before the commencement of the physical construction work.

Over 7000 organisms have been relocated under the Kaimoana Management Plan developed for the resource consent.

Additionally, LPC has become the first company in New Zealand to release a disclosure report under the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures Framework.

This report focuses on LPC’s impacts, dependencies, risks, and opportunities. It identifies where Port activities have contributed to land and marine habitat change since the beginnings of a commercial Port in 1875.

Our goal is to become net biodiversity positive, measured against a baseline of 1875, and this report is a crucial step in establishing the pathway to achieve this aim.

Economic benefits

The reclamation work is vital to ensure that the Port can handle the volume demands of the Canterbury and South Island economies and to enable the Port’s resilience in the event of another major seismic event.

If the next stage of this work is not completed soon, we will be unable to meet the timetable required to deliver the new Te Awaparahi Bay Wharf by the early 2030s, which will be crucial to delivering the forecast container vessel berth requirements.

The risk is berth congestion; currently, LPC can only berth a single large container vessel at a time. The new berth will allow two large vessels to berth simultaneously.

Long-term sustainability

The Te Awaparahi Bay reclamation project is not just about expanding our port facilities; it is about ensuring the long-term sustainability and resilience of our region’s economy and environment.

We are committed to working with all stakeholders, including the local community and iwi, to address concerns and ensure this project benefits everyone involved.

If you have any questions about work you see in the harbour or at any of our sites, don’t hesitate to contact our team.

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