Convention centre and parking business on one of few blocks not owned by airport

A2500-seat convention centre on one of the few blocks left in the Airport Oaks industrial area not owned by Auckland Airport is for sale, with an adjacent car-parking business on a freehold 1.55ha site.

Both properties are being marketed by Bruce Whillans, Kathy Ying and Henry Thompson of Ray White Commercial, who are selling them by tenders closing on Wednesday, June 17.

The Life Convention Centre at 110 Montgomerie Rd has three large auditoriums, multiple conference rooms and parking for 227 cars.

Whillans says it sits on a 3.27ha site just 3km from Auckland’s domestic and international airports.

“The convention centre in Montgomerie Rd is strategically located in Airport Oaks, which is Auckland’s pre-eminent freight forwarding, logistics and warehousing precinct. It has been well maintained with the existing improvements tailored towards church, community and business group gatherings and events.

“The property is being offered with vacant possession [so] a new owner has a number of options for the property, including redeveloping it.”

Other firms in the area include Linfox, UPS, Rinnai, Foodstuffs and Kuehne and Nagel. It is next to the Villa Maria Winery and less than 1km from State Highway 20A.

Whillans says the site represents a prime redevelopment opportunity, with significant development scope permitted under both the current district plan and the Proposed Auckland Unitary Plan.

“With about 5700sq m of conference and auditorium space it would be ideal for another church, community or business group. Under the

The Life Convention Centre and Aeroparks are next to each other. zoning it would also be possible to build a hotel on part of the site under the district plan. There is a large undeveloped field area on the southern perimeter of the site.

“Other buyers may see value in the land as the site for a light industrial or business park. The fact that it overlooks the Villa Maria Winery is a bonus.”

The centre was built in the 1990s and has been developed in stages with five separate structures. It sits in extensively landscaped grounds with parking for 193 cars with extra parking available around the centre.

Access to the property is via Montgomerie Rd but there is the potential for a second access point to Penihana Place via a right-of-way, which runs along the southern boundary. The largest individual auditorium has 2045sq m of columnfree space with a 7.5m stud height. Some walls can be easily moved by forklift to add to or decrease its size.

Behind this auditorium is a separate open-plan conference centre with a stage and seating capacity for about 750 people.

The smaller buildings — which house a main reception facility, three conference rooms, a family centre and bathroom amenities — range in size from about 82sq m through to a 209sq m family centre, which was previously used as a restaurant.

An upstairs area is used as a private guest speaker lounge complete with its own kitchen, bathroom and outdoor balcony.

At 112 Pavilion Drive, Airport Oaks, the well-established Aeroparks carparking business has space for 682 cars on its site.

Founded in 2008, Aeroparks is a well-known and profitable airport car-parking business which also provides a range of value-add car grooming and maintenance services.

Ying says longer term, the site represents a prime redevelopment opportunity, with significant development scope permitted under both the current district plan and the Draft Unitary Plan.

“Aeroparks Carpark was purposebuilt and designed as a long-term carparking facility with the property surrounded by security fencing and extensive security lighting across the entire site,” she says.

It comes with an office and reception area located towards the main entrance of the property with a large canopy extending out from the office providing weather protection for car pick-up and drop-offs and airport shuttle services.

The property is in two, separate, freehold titles delivering a total combined site area of 1.55ha and the sale includes the business itself.

Thompson says the Airport Oaks industrial area is sought after because of its location in Auckland, close to both airports and only 10km from the inland Wiri port.

It is about 20 minutes from Auckland’s CBD.

The Waterview-State Highway 20 connection will significantly improve drive times upon completion in 2017, Thompson says.

“Airport Oaks also benefits from having one of the largest labour pools in the country in surrounding South Auckland.”