Tokoroa developments rising
Two major developments expected to provide more than 100 full time jobs in Tokoroa are well underway and should be completed on time and on budget.
The two projects will anchor the northern and southern entrances into the town and during construction will employ more than 300 workers from local and out-of-town firms.
Tokoroa locals would have noticed two cranes recently moved onto the site of the Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) dairy processing facility on the corner of State Highway 1 and Campbell Rd.
At the other end of town, preliminary site works have almost been completed for the new trades training centre on the corner of State Highway 1 and Chambers St.
OFI New Zealand operations director Paul Rennie said construction of stage one of the Singapore-based company’s dairy processing facility was going well and it should be operational by August next year employing up to 60 staff.
‘‘At this stage we are looking at being on time and on budget,’’ Rennie said. ‘‘We got those things nailed down early when it comes to logistics and materials to protect ourselves from any risk to the supply chain.’’
He said the foundations for the dry tower and silo pads have been built, and he expects the fabrication of the stainless steel tower to begin in April.
Rennie said OFI is about to start recruiting for five high level positions as the company prepares for production.
‘‘We are a team of three here at the moment, and we are looking bolster the team and attract some great talent.’’
OFI will be advertising for project and engineering management staff as well as compliance and health and safety experts, and those who can work with farmers and milk suppliers.
‘‘As we get closer to commissioning later in 2022 we’ll be looking at employing warehouse and process workers.
‘‘This is just stage one and there are more expansions planned over the next five years, so there’s more to come.
‘‘The town has been very supportive of the project and we hope to reach out and create opportunities for the people of Tokoroa.’’
Meanwhile, civil engineering works at Tokoroa’s new $14 million South Waikato Trades
Training Centre are almost complete.
South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) economic development manager Francis Pauwels said Marra Construction would begin construction of the building in the next few weeks.
The project is being led by SWIFT, in liaison with Toi Ohomai, after the Government granted $10.84 million towards it in August 2020. Trust Waikato granted $1 million to the project, with SWIFT covering the balance.
Once complete, the centre will be able to train about 740 students each year and comes complete with a cafe and barber shop.
‘‘There’s been no major glitches and our contractors have had a long lead in time so should not have too many supply chain issues.
‘‘Whether Covid causes any issues is yet to be seen and I expect it would only cause problems with supply rather than for the workers who are well spread out over the site,’’ Pauwels said.
He said the centre should be open by the end of February 2023 to align with the start of the polytech year.
‘‘We’re very pleased with how it’s going, and we are getting a lot of positive feedback that a lot of local contractors are working on the project.’’