28 | :hakatane: Pĭtauaki Trust: REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Kelly Deeks Sustainable future the goal for Trust Pĭtauaki Trust CE2 -ohn 2’Brien says the industrial hub will provide employment for not only the local community but ‘also for our own descendants.’ Stainless steel – fabrication and welding Design Supply Install Steve King 027 4095 0054 Will King 027 615 7922 Robbie Hall 027 807 1312 *Ef uent & irrigation * Feed systems * Frost protection * Animal health * Detergent * Rubberware & Consumable * Trenching service c1107kwKing Milking & water systems specialists since 1988 Main Street, Edgecumbe Ph 07 304 9640 anytime Proudly supporting Putauaki Trust A new industrial zone in Kawerau is being developed by Pūtauaki Trust in the interests of creating a sustainable future for the local community, its people, and its land. “It is hoped our industrial hub will attract entities with long term sustainable businesses, providing employment for not only the local community but also for our own descendants,ȋ says Pūtauaki Trust C(O John O’Brien. ȊOur first tenant, geothermal powered dairy processing plant Waiū Dairy, has been operating for three years and is employing more than 50 full-time employees, while these employees are supporting their whānau and the community at large.” Pūtauaki Trust’s industrial zone, Must o State Highway 34 through Kawerau and opposite the Kawerau mill site, has been developed under a zoning change following Whakatane District Council and Kawerau District Council seeking to address a forecast shortage of industrial land in the Eastern Bay of Plenty by ensuring land was appropriately zoned, serviced, and accessible for easy development. About 110ha of Pūtauaki Trust’s rural land, which was being run as a dry stock farm, was rezoned industrial following a long process of consultation with the Bay Of Plenty Regional Council, local iwi, businesses, Forest & Bird, and other aected parties, as well as numerous meetings with Pūtauaki Trust shareholders and the Maori Land Court. 240ha of property in this same location continues to be zoned rural, and is where Pūtauaki Trust runs a profitable and sustainable 0 cow dairy farm. “All of our trustees and shareholders were on board,ȋ John says. ȊThey could see the bigger picture and they wanted to create more jobs for our shareholders and descendants, and the wider community, while still giving more economic return to the Trust than the dry stock farm.” As well as the development and completion of the Waiū Dairy geothermal dairy plant on 4ha of the industrial zoned land, the plan change has so far seen the completion of the zone’s roading infrastructure, with the roundabout and internal road named Anaru Drive, after kaumatua and inaugural trustee Anaru Rangiheuea, and Tamaoho Drive, named after the Trust’s esteemed former Chairman Tamaoho Waaka Vercoe. The local Waiotahi Contractors delivered all of this infrastructure on time, and under budget. “Our appointment of Waiotahi Contractors for the proMect proved a wise decision,ȋ John says. “A big mihi must also be given to our design and engineering consultants Bloxham Burnett & Olliver, and the many sub-contractors who worked on the contract. It certainly was a great team eort and a privilege for Pūtauaki Trust to be involved.ȋ John says the proMect, which provided employment for up to 100 people, would not have been possible without the $9.5 million of funding received from the Provincial Growth Fund. Pūtauaki Trust invites expressions of interest in a long-term lease arrangement from businesses who align with the trust’s own values of looking after the environment, kaitiakitanga, and looking after the people, manaakitanga. ȊPūtauaki Trust is going to be around for another 100 years, so we are happy to take our time and make sure we partner with the right people and the right businesses,ȋ John says. Pūtauaki Trust was established in 1 1 with the purpose of managing and growing the assets of more than 800 shareholders, who predominantly whakapapa to marae in Te Teko. (very year, Pūtauaki Trust provides grants to support the educational endeavours and the health and wellbeing of its shareholders and their descendants, as well as the Te Teko community.
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