Supersite open

Downer New Zealand’s new $ 15 million supersite in Porirua was opened by Prime Minister John Key.

The purpose-built Makaro St site houses 550 staff and includes 1.7 hectares of yard area, 2650 square metres of offices and 2500sqm of warehousing.

Downer chief executive Cos Bruyn said the site represented a significant investment in the company’s national infrastructure.

‘‘ This site allows capacity for growth in future and positions us well to contribute to the step change in greater Wellington’s public infrastructure. This includes the Wellington inner city improvement project, the likes of Transmission Gully, the number of wind farms planned for the lower half of the North Island and the nationally critical ultra-fast broadband rollout.’’

The Makaro St premises consoli- dates seven existing Wellington Downer sites, covering transportation, telco and rail into one location.

Downer has also retained its existing asphalt plant at Kiwi Point.

Education and Pacific Island Affairs Minister Hekia Parata and Porirua mayor Nick Leggett were among guests at the April 3 opening.

Mr Bruyn said the site had been selected after a ‘‘strategic look’’ at the wider Wellington region.

‘‘We combined seven existing sites into one and centred our operation on growth areas, namely Kapiti, Porirua and access into the transport network.’’

Over the past two years Downer has completed similar co-locations for most major towns and cities as it integrates 4500 staff in more than 50 locations under its ‘ One Downer’ strategy.