Visiting minister's hands tied

There is always going to be a future for PrimePort Timaru.

Those were the words of Transport Minister Steven Joyce during his visit to Timaru when he met port officials, mayor Janie Annear, members of the Aoraki Development Trust and Temuka shopkeeper Paddy O'Reilly.

Mr Joyce addressed members of the port network in a meeting at the Aoraki Development Trust yesterday morning.

Although he recognised PrimePort's drop in trade as a significant issue, Mr Joyce said his hands were tied after Fonterra's decision to export out of Lyttelton Port instead of Timaru.

"I can't do anything directly about it," Mr Joyce said.

"Fonterra has to make its changes on how it gets its goods to market."

It was good to see the Federated Farmers, Chamber of Commerce and Union getting together to put some work into resolving any issues, Mr Joyce said.

He expressed similar sentiments when he met Temuka residents to discuss the proposed closure of the Denmark St railway crossing.

"It's KiwiRail's decision at the end of the day."

Mr Joyce said he did not formally have a role in the Denmark St decision but would have look at some of the finer details.

"Hopefully, they will work something out."

The proposed four lanes for Evans St was an issue that Timaru shared with other provincial towns.

"It's one of the challenges that Timaru faces as the road doubles as a highway.

"As the place grows, you get those sort of challenges.

"It's not a unique problem," Mr Joyce said.

- © Fairfax NZ News