NZ's largest consented industrial park opens a new area

NZ's largest fully consented industrial park opens a new area

New Zealand’s largest fully consented industrial park, Izone at Rolleston, has launched the next planned stage of its 180ha development two years ahead of schedule.

Stage 7 covers 41.5ha and includes Port of Tauranga’s strategically significant new 15ha freight hub that opens later this month.

While only just officially for sale, Stage 7 is already attracting serious interest says Izone’s development director Robin Hughes.

“There are 17 lots, four of which are in dress circle position next to the South Island’s first inland port. One is already sold.

“Port of Tauranga’s new operation really does mark a step change in Canterbury’s logistics sector. In addition to being the country’s dominant port operator, they have a proven track record of highly efficient freight handling at their extremely successful Metroport facility in Auckland.”

Hughes says the Port of Tauranga’s new facility, ‘Metroport Christchurch’, offers businesses purchasing land in Stage 7 the opportunity to remove a whole link from their supply chain, slashing logistics costs.

They will also have the choice of having sea freight routed through Timaru or Lyttelton and, thanks to Stage 7’s own rail-siding which directly enters Metroport Christchurch, utilising road transport or rail.

Izone is owned by Selwyn District Council and is currently home to more than 60 businesses, with more scheduled to open during the coming months.

“Izone truly has experienced unprecedented demand,” Hughes says, “and not just because of the business and residential shift west that occurred following the Canterbury earthquakes. Even before the quakes, Izone was selling well ahead of schedule and demand was escalating. At one point last year we’d sold as much land in the previous 18 months as all of Christchurch’s industrial locations put together.”

Hughes says Port of Tauranga’s announcement last year that it was establishing a logistics freight hub at Izone was one of the most strategically important announcements in Canterbury’s industrial sector for many years.

“It’s sparked a huge amount of interest in Christchurch and beyond, with businesses excited about the improved choices Port or Tauranga is bringing to Canterbury. We’re anticipating strong demand from the agribusiness sector in particular.”

Stage 7 site works will commence in August. Consents have been obtained and titles are anticipated in March 2016. Early access by way of a licence is available for parties wanting to commence construction ahead of title issuing.

ENDS

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