Plans for a new multi-million dollar cruise ship berth released yesterday by the Lyttelton Port Company will open up new tourism opportunities for Christchurch, said Tourism Minister Paula Bennett.
The $56 million dollar berth, funded by the Christchurch City Council, through its port company will enable large cruise liners to return to Lyttelton for the first time since the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.
The new berth will be the first custom built cruise ship facility for Christchurch and will be able to accommodate some of the largest cruise liners from around the world, LPC said in its release.
“I am applauding the leadership shown by Christchurch City Council and Lyttelton Port Company to recognize the value of the $484 million cruise sector to Canterbury tourism” said Mrs Bennett.
“In 2015 the Government announced the Lyttelton Port Recovery Plan which allows for works that contribute to the recovery of the port to be undertaken quickly and outlined a $45 million dedicated cruise berth facility.
“This news follows Auckland Council giving support in principle to extend Queens Wharf to allow larger cruise ships like the Ovation of the Seas to berth, rather than anchor in the harbor.”
LPC is also progressing with their application to deepen, widen and lengthen Lyttelton Harbor’s shipping navigation channel so the larger vessels being used by the shipping industry can get access to the port.
The additional channel depth will support LPC as the South Island’s major international trade gateway and develop a competitive port for the future that is able to service the region’s long-term trade growth.
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