38 | South Waikato District Council South Waikato booming in 2022 Karen Phelps Development of Better Eggs’ free range forest has created employment in South Waikato. REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Want to set up a business or need to expand your operations? South Waikato District Council welcomes you with open arms. The council encourages quality new investment – and according to South Waikato District Council Mayor Jenny Shattock it’s paying dividends. She says the district is on a major growth trajectory with several business parks in the development pipeline including the Buttermilk development in Putāruru and an Intermodal Business Park in Tokoroa. “The attractions are obvious, with companies looking to diversify their production or operational footprint or to manage future risks of further lockdowns and supply chain constraints. South Waikato is about 70 kilometres from the Port of Tauranga and an hour from Hamilton and Tauranga by car. ” Buttermilk is a greenfield 40-hectare business park located beside State Highway 1 in Putaruru that will soon be available to investors and owner-occupiers. The site developers can incorporate a rail siding providing container freight access to Ports of Tauranga, should this be required. “The attractions are obvious, with companies looking to diversify their production or operational footprint or to manage future risks of further lockdowns and supply chain constraints.” Jenny Shattock Mayor Shattock says the Buttermilk development is a great opportunity for a large-scale manufacturing, processing or logistics operation to future proof its business. Meanwhile a planned new Intermodal business park for Tokoroa will facilitate significant expansion of container rail freight volumes through the Tokoroa road/rail terminal. The existing facility, which opened in 2015, provides intermodal connectivity to Ports of Tauranga and Ports of Auckland. Mayor Shattock says the new 10ha business park will provide up to 20 fully serviced lots, all with freight access through the adjoining terminal, ranging in size from 1500m2 to just under 1ha with the flexibility to combine lots to meet investor/occupier requirements. The development of the business park is planned to start in 2022 with staged development through to the end of 2023. Mayor Shattock says that the South Waikato District Council is working with The South Waikato Investment Fund Trust (SWIFT) and government to fully leverage the benefits of the Tokoroa Road/Rail Terminal for the district and the region. Mayor Shattock says other workforce benefits for new businesses looking to set up in the district are a great work/life balance, quick commutes, wide-open spaces, affordable housing and welcoming communities. There are a number of new residential housing developments underway which should provide over 800 homes in the next few years. She says the Council’s drive to attract The South Waikato Trades Training Centre business to the district has seen significant businesses either set up in the district or existing businesses make big investment due to growth. Good examples are multinational company Olam Food Ingredients (OFI), which is building a new state of the art dairy processing facility, and Oji Fibre Solutions, which is enhancing the Kinleith pulp and paper mill. . Local company Heyden Farms, which markets as Better Eggs, is busy developing its 139-hectare free-range forest near Tokoroa that will see it become a leading egg production site. Riverside village, Arapuni, has seen investment by local tourist business Riverside Adventures Waikato, which is developing chalets near the Waikato River to provide luxury eco-friendly accommodation to its clients. It’s not all about big business though – South Waikato also has small businesses firmly in its sights. This has already seen health food company Nothing Naughty relocate from Tauranga to Tīrau. Mayor Shattock says that all of the district’s towns are idea place for small businesses to set up and Council offers attractive start-up support packages. “We work closely with investors, entrepreneurs and business owners to make the process as smooth as possible. It’s a truly collaborative approach.” Winter is on the way. It is time to prepare your home for the cooler months. Call us today to book in your fireplace inspection and chimney sweep. “Totally Dependable”
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