Local industry buys into marine precinct

The Tauranga Harbour Marine Precinct has its first owners, after a successful tender process for the sale of Stage 1 lots on the precinct.

Today Mayor Stuart Crosby signed sale and purchase agreements with Hutcheson Boatbuilders, Pachoud Yachts, Pacific 7, RMD Marine, SMF Engineering and Super Yacht Coatings International. The local industry has spoken – it's all systems go for the Marine Precinct.


An artist's impression of the new marine precinct.

'It's fantastic to see the industry jump on board as they have,” says Mayor Stuart Crosby.

'We knew that the demand for a boat refit facility in Tauranga was strong, ever since the decommissioning of the slipway. Here we're not only reinstating this access, we're also providing the industry with a world-class hub in which to develop their businesses and collaborate.”

The tender process got interest and commitment from the local industry, also attracting an Auckland-based company back to their hometown.

'Our city is growing and we need our industries to grow with it; we're proud to be supporting this, to be offering our businesses real opportunities and an inspirational future,” says Stuart.

The sale process resulted in an oversubscription with several companies tendering for multiple lots, and in some cases companies tendering for the same lots. Council staff worked with tenderers to define alternative locations and align tender values with Council's land valuations.

This resulted in a reviewed masterplan with 10,000m2 of land sold to tenderers along Cross Road and in Den Place, and around the future hardstand.

This includes two lots initially intended to be developed in future years, which Council decided to bring into stage 1 to meet the demand from tenderers.

Proceeds from the land sales will go towards the development of the Marine Precinct, primarily the provision of infrastructure.

Project Director Phil Wardale is glad to see the offer taken up by a diverse mix of marine-based businesses.

'We will have a great spread of specialities represented in the Precinct, from fibre-glassing to marine engineering, vessel painting and timber decking to composite building, a specialised workboat fleet and a fishing fleet,” says Phil.

'This means increased potential for collaboration among precinct occupiers and with other marine businesses in the area. This is the first step in the Marine Precinct's strategy of providing a one-stop-shop for customers getting their vessels serviced in Tauranga. And thanks to our 350 tonne capacity vessel-hoist we'll be able to cater for a wide range of customers from around the Bay and New Zealand.”

The Marine Precinct's Cimolai mobile vessel hoist will be capable of lifting commercial and recreational vessels up to 350 tonnes, 11.5m wide and 45m long, and the hardstand's pavement will be designed to handle these requirements.

Work continues on the selection of a civil works construction company to build the 6,200m2 hardstand and the new vertical seawall. The Tauranga Harbour Marine Precinct is now expected to open mid-2017.

The new owners of the Marine Precinct will be announced to the local marine industry at the occasion of the Annual General Meeting of the Tauranga Marine Industry Association tonight.

The future occupiers of the Tauranga Harbour Marine Precinct:

Lot 9 and 10: Hutcheson Boatbuilders

Lot 5: Pachoud Yachts New Zealand

Lot 4: Pacific 7

Lot 2 and 3: RMD Marine Limited

Lot 12: SMF Engineering

Lot 7: Super Yahct Coatings.


Tauranga Harbour Marine Precinct and new lot owners
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About the Marine Precinct project

The Tauranga Harbour Marine Precinct is a $10m project to deliver a purpose-built marine servicing facility at Sulphur Point. The precinct will provide a base for boat building and refit businesses in Tauranga and will be managed by Tauranga City Council under the Vessel Works brand.

By mid-2017 (stage 1 development), the precinct will include lots in a range of sizes for marine businesses, a 6,200m2 vessel storage area (hardstand), deep-water marina berths for large vessels and New Zealand's largest vessel hoist (350-tonne haulage capacity and extra-wide).

Further development (more lots, extension to the hardstand) will be undertaken in stages, based on demand from the industry.

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is the funding partner for the Marine Precinct project, contributing $5 million through the Regional Infrastructure Fund. Tauranga City Council's $5 million contribution will be partially offset by the sale of properties on and near the site.

For more information please view the project website: www.vesselworks.co.nz

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4 comments

End result

Posted on 30-06-2016 15:19 | By Crash test dummies

TCC has sold the land and will then re-spend that onsite, TCC has therefore in end result given away the value of the land. Add to that some $10.5m of rates money also thrown at it + $5 million odd from RBOP. So can anyone tell me what exactly the benefit to Tauranga ratepayers is here?


Developers

Posted on 30-06-2016 17:45 | By Kenworthlogger

The coucil should not be doing this sort of thing. Leave it up to private enterprise. We all know that everything that council touches turns to sh$t.


Spare us

Posted on 30-06-2016 18:24 | By overit

TCC is going to manage it.That will be a balls up and loss of money.


Caution Please

Posted on 07-07-2016 10:55 | By peecee09

It is a well known fact that anti fouling coatings are highly toxic to the environment and that many vessels will have their hulls high pressure water blasted at this facility. It would be reassuring if Council can offer an assurance that none of this dangerous material will enter the harbour. Your response please Council.


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