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Calder Stewart says the 513 acres of industrially zoned land it plans to develop in Awarua, 6 miles from Invercargill, is positioned to become a flagship for economic development in the south.
Developers of a massive industrial development near Invercargill will unveil a “master plan” in the coming months, but can’t say when work on the site could begin.
Ben Stewart, Calder Stewart land acquisition manager, said the 513 hectare development in Awarua was a ‘long term game’ for Southland, but how long it will take remains unknown.
The company announced nearly two months ago that it had acquired the industrial area from Invercargill City Council, saying the area was positioned to become a flagship for economic development in the south.
This week, Stewart said the company had been working on several initiatives over the past two months.
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This included high-level master planning for the site, including stormwater management, roads, infrastructure, services and water.
Calder Stewart had also identified potential users and industries, communicated with stakeholders, reviewed environmental implications, reviewed wetland area regeneration opportunities, and explored sustainability initiatives.
Given the size of the site, development would be phased over time, but the company was well into the master planning and feasibility process that would determine its eventual timing.
“Accordingly, while we don’t currently have any firm timetables, we are now making meaningful investments in the site and plan to have an overall master plan to share in the coming months.”
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Ben Stewart, Calder Stewart Land Acquisition Manager.
Calder Stewart did not intend to wait for other industry decisions, such as the future of aluminum smelter Tiwai Point, before committing to his broader plans for the site.
“While we approach the development of the site with a long-term vision, we do not intend to sit on the land until other decisions have been made.
“One of the advantages of the site’s scale is that we have several options in terms of how it is organized and how it is used. Our initial master planning is done with this in mind, so there is flexibility in how it is used and there is 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 companies are and how many will be driven by the master planning exercise we’re working on right now.”
Announcing the purchase, Calder Stewart said direct lines from Manapouri could provide clean energy to future tenants.
With State Highway One, Invercargill Airport, a railroad and South Port nearby, it offered the occupying forces several advantages, Stewart believed.
At 513 hectares, it was one of the largest industrial areas in Australasia, so it would take a lot of time and expense to open up the site, and a strategic approach was required, he said.
The former dairy farm land was purchased by the Invercargill City Council in four phases for a total of $9,505 million between 2006 and 2008, with the intent of facilitating industrial development.
Council chair Clare Hadley has declined to disclose how much the council sold the land to Calder Stewart, but said the information would be in a real estate investment report to be made publicly available on the council’s website, which is expected to be released soon. .
Sheree Carey, chief executive of the Southland Chamber of Commerce, said she’s looking forward to what Awarua’s development masterplan shows, and its timeline.