Celebrating the opening of our $13m rail pad

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Today marked the official opening our our $13m rail pad at the Port Chalmers Container Terminal. 


Three ministers attended the event - Rail Minister Winston Peters, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Rural Communities Minister (also Associate Minister of Agriculture) Mark Patterson - recognising the Government’s $8.2m loan to build a replica replica rail pad 32km away at our Southern Link inland port (Mosgiel) by the end of next year. Also in attendance was Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich, Kevin Malcom and Richard Saunders from the Otago Regional Council, West Harbour and Mosgiel Community Boards representatives, as well as project partners Kiwirail, Martinus, SouthRoads, Custom Fencing, WSP and Octa.


Southern Link – situated on 50 hectares on the corner of Dukes and Stedman Roads – is a joint venture between Port Otago and Dynes Group. The rail connection will enable seamless logistics for containers coming and going between Port Chalmers and Mosgiel. 


Port Otago Chief Executive Kevin Winders says the rail connection provides the port with “space to grow” - one of the company’s three strategic pillars, the other two being Always open and Data led. “It's exciting to see the big picture come together and important to celebrate the milestones that along the way, as each piece of picture slots into place.” 


Mr Peters said the Port Otago rail siding already supports 60% of all containers transported through the terminal, taking 43,000 truck trips off Dunedin’s roads last year, and a further 19,000 to come when the inland port is in operation. “Inland freight hubs provide vital additional space away from busy coastal ports. They can be seen in every major city in New Zealand but, until now, Dunedin was the exception. That is finally changing."


Mr Jones saids the ability of producers and manufacturers to get their goods more quickly and efficiently to port means savings, higher productivity and export earnings. “This is great news for the regions, its workers and the local economies. The country does well when its regions prosper.”