Masterplan work in progress for industrial project
Developers of a massive industrial development near Invercargill will reveal a ‘‘master plan’’ in coming months, but cannot say when work may begin on the site.
Calder Stewart land acquisition development manager Ben Stewart said its 513 hectare development at Awarua was a ‘‘long term play’’ for Southland, but just how long term remains unknown.
The company announced nearly two months ago it had acquired the industrial-zoned land from the Invercargill City Council, saying the area was positioned to become a flagship for economic development in the south.
This week, Stewart said the firm had been working on several initiatives in the past two months.
This included high level master planning for the site, including stormwater management, roading, infrastructure, services and water.
Calder Stewart had also been identifying potential occupiers and industries, communicating with stakeholders, looking at the implications for the surrounding area, looking at regeneration options of the wetland area and investigating sustainability initiatives.
Given the size of the site, the development would be staged over time, but the company was well into the master planning and feasibility process which would drive the ultimate timing of it.
‘‘Accordingly, whilst we don’t currently have set time frames we are making meaningful investment into the site now and intend to have an overall master plan to share in the coming months.’’
Calder Stewart did not intend to wait for other industry decisions, such as the future of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, before committing to its broader plans for the site.
‘‘Whilst we are approaching development of the site with a longterm view, we are not planning to sit on the land until other decisions are made.
‘‘One of the benefits of the scale of the site is that we have various options in terms of how it is divided and used. Our initial master planning is being undertaken with this in mind, so there is flexibility in how it is used and no reliance on one particular activity.’’
The size and scale of the development meant it could be used for a variety of purposes, Stewart said.
‘‘But what these businesses are and how many will be driven by the master planning exercise we are working through now.’’
When announcing the purchase, Calder Stewart said direct lines from Manapouri may provide clean energy to future tenants.
With State Highway One, Invercargill Airport, a railway line and South Port nearby, it offered various advantages to occupiers, Stewart believed.
At 513 hectares, it was one of the largest industrial areas in Australasia so considerable time and cost would be involved to unlock the property, and a strategic approach was required, he said.
The former dairy farm land was bought by the Invercargill City Council between 2006 and 2008, over four stages for a total of $9.505 million, with intentions to facilitate industrial development.
Council chief executive Clare Hadley has declined to reveal how much the council sold the land to Calder Stewart for, but said the information would be in a property investment report to be made publicly available on the council website, understood to be shortly.
Southland Chamber of Commerce chief executive Sheree Carey said she looked forward to seeing what the Awarua development master plan showed, and the timeline associated with it.