Michael Laws

Wellington, Nov 20 NZPA - Wanganui Mayor Michael Laws is accusing a company overseeing the city's port of running it down to the extent of creating a public health hazard.

He also accused an unnamed principal of leasee River City Port of drawing a salary of approximately $150,000 a year for the last five years for a part-time job.

Mr Laws called for urgent inspection by the Department of Labour, with a view to closing the port for reasons of public safety.

He cited an engineering report commissioned by Wanganui District Council that identified issues with the entrance moles to the port, the wharves and found not enough dredging had been carried out.

"I anticipate the port will be closed within the next 72 to 96 hours," he said.

River City Port spokesman Colin Cashmore said the previous council entered into the lease four years ago, which was legally binding.

At that time maintenance issues were identified and areas were cordoned off that were not used. A joint engineer had a view that actions taken were sound.

"This is not a safety issue at all. He is just trying to clobber us into giving up the lease," said Mr Cashmore.

"No director shareholder has received one cent in any form of either salary or director fees since the company has started," he said.

A Wanganui District Council Port and Harbour Bill is due to have its first reading in Parliament on December 9. It enables the council to take over day-to-day management of the port and harbour.

River City Port considers the bill to be a theft of its property right and it has been in talks with council.

"Our intent in entering the lease was to do something good for Wanganui. We are Wanganui people and we've done very well in Wanganui and we wanted to grow the project," Mr Cashmore said.

The lease is renewal every five years in perpetuity.

He said Wanganui was a great little port and River City Port had increased freight 37 percent per annum. Mr Laws was putting the commercial trade at risk.

Mr Laws said the council had been concerned for some time that the port and its structures were deteriorating so rapidly that they were a public health hazard and someone would get killed.

"We've drawn these concerns to the attention of the leasee, River City Port, but have been rebutted about their responsibilities."

It would only be a matter of time before the crumbling wharves crash into the sea, with the potential to take human life with it.

"There have been decades of neglect and we are now looking at $6 million to $10m just to restore the structures, let alone making the port commercially viable.

Mr Laws also accused the leasee of refusing to allow a Wanganui business to aggregate its operations on Harbour land and said that business was threatening to leave Wanganui.

"We want to turn our port into a major recreational and light commercial area. It should be a focal point for Wanganui but at the moment it's a scandal, an eyesore and a danger. I urge members of the public to keep away from the port area," Mr Laws said.