Lyttelton clinches lease, seeks marina investors
Lyttelton Port of Christchurch (LPC) has attracted another big freight company to its inland port and has released an offer to developers for its new marina.
Canterbury’s largest warehousing and logistics operator, Move Logistics, has taken a long-term lease at IPort, an industrial and logistics park on
122 hectares of industrial-zoned land in Rolleston.
Move Logistics will lease a purpose-built warehouse, extending its warehousing in Canterbury from 50,000 square metres to 78,000sqm.
Stage one of the IPort development included the sale of
27ha to Lyttelton Port in 2015 to develop its inland port, which is called Midland Port.
Move Logistics managing director Brendan Prendergast said the warehouse would be built on land next to Midland Port.
The company employs a staff of more than 350 and has 120 trucks moving freight across New Zealand. It also recently invested in Wiri, Ports of Auckland’s inland port.
Prendergast said the investments would streamline its services, reduce freight movements, and save money on costs such as container transportation.
Meanwhile, LPC has commissioned Knight Frank to seek developer and tenant interest for its Te Ana marina, where it has expressions of interest from 110 buyers of the 170 leases on offer. According to an information memorandum, the final prices are yet to be set but will range between $480 and $580 a month.
LPC will own and operate the marina and associated facilities, which are due for completion in April 2018. The walk-on marina will feature berths for yachts and powerboats and will include a waterfront promenade.
Stage one of the commercial development at Te Ana is the refurbishment of the old woolstore building next to the waterfront, for commercial and retail activities. The building will be strengthened and upgraded, and efforts will be made to retain many of the characteristics of the original building.
‘‘Opportunities are available for a wide range of businesses, including retail, food and beverage, marine services, offices and community activities. We expect rental rates will be competitive and reflect the value and amenity of the location and facility,’’ LPC chief executive Peter Davie said.
Space will be provided in the woolstore for the marina’s administration offices, berthholder amenities and public washroom facilities.
This building will accommodate 720sqm of groundfloor space in a range of flexible tenancy sizes, excluding the marina offices and amenities, and up to a maximum of 400sqm in any one tenancy.
‘‘There are very few venues in all of Canterbury where you can dine with a view of the sea.
‘‘Christchurch will finally have what all other major New Zealand cities have and that is a fully serviced, walk-on marina,’’ Davie said.