Enabling works have begun on the $22 million extensions. Main works have not started. Mr Hawkins said the board had some points of clarification with the ACIL letter.
The Ports board, which is under sustained public and political pressure to stop work on the wharf extensions, was not trying to build monuments, Mr Hawkins said.
He said there were genuine and urgent reasons for the extensions.
They were needed to provide longer berth space for bigger ships which the shipping lines wanted certainty about from late 2016 and 2017.
He said the port company had agreed to dismantle the wharf extensions if the port study found they were not needed or the port was to move.
Even having the extensions in place for a couple of years would be worth more than the $22 million cost of building them and the costs of dismantling them, Mr Hawkins said.
Auckland Mayor Len Brown was not impressed when ACIL and Ports suggested discussions would continue, but there is now a feeling at the council that the issues are complex and should not be rushed.
Where to for the Ports?
• Political call to halt wharf extensions into fourth week.
• Ports board meets today.
• No decision likely on extensions.
