Business North November 2021

20 | DMS Progrowers REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Expansion to increase handling capacity T from page 18 This year a total of 14.2million trays of Class 1 fruit was packed and cool-stored at the DMS Progrowers facilities. The best people for the best outcomes. Mary Hill Partner Mark Harding Consultant Jemma Hollis Law Clerk Kate Stubbing Senior Associate Rachael Zame Senior Associate Our Tauranga-based Resource Management & Local Government team are nationally recognised for their work across the full spectrum of resource management law. Backed up by a full-service law firm of some of the best and brightest legal minds in the business we're ready to help you navigate infrastructure and development projects of any scale. cooneyleesmorgan.co.nz BSK are proud to support DMS Progrowers. Structural & Geotechnical - Engineering - Solutions 314 Malfroy Road, Rotorua • PO Box 23, Rotorua 3040 & Unit 5, 1334 Cameron Road, Greerton, Tauranga BOP IPS is proud to be partnering with DMS Progrowers on another exciting project Sarah Wombwell, Director of BOP IPS, has worked with DMS for more than 5 years. Together, we’ve continually delivered a variety of successful projects, including industry leading accommodation for seasonal workers, office conversions and packhouse buildings. BOP IPS provide a holistic approach to project and construction management, built on a solid foundation of widespread knowledge and experience. sarah@bopips.co.nz 021 302 825 bopips.co.nz SARAH WOMBWELL Derek says recent decisions by the Gov- ernment to open up the RSE scheme for horticulturalist and processing plants to employ workers from some Pacific Islands are welcome news. “We’ve also missed the seasonal backpack- ers who traditionally stop by to work at our packhouse during the height of the packing season.” In July, earthworks at the site had conclud- ed, ready for the construction of the new packhouse, to be built by I-Line Construction. “We’re just waiting now for consent to come out of Council and we’re working to a tight timeframe to have the buildings completed in time for the machinery, currently being built in France and Spain which is due for shipment late August.” The new technology will have the latest Spectrum Camera Grading capability, which is a camera taking multiple shots to determine the quality of each piece of fruit. Eventually, with the aim to double-shift packing at the site, there will be the need to employ upward of 200 additional seasonal staff, making DMS a major employer and economic contributor in the region. Packing fruit typically gets underway in March and completed by June. This year a total of 14.2million trays of Class 1 fruit was packed and cool-stored, with the substantial majority exported through to Eu- rope, China, Japan, and South-East Asia. Derek says that future-proofing packing capacity, will provide assurance to their growers that new hectares they have invested into kiwifruit will be packed when they come on stream. He’s also proud of the quality of relation- ship they have created with their neighbours. “After all, in essence we’re a manufactur- ing facility within a rural environment so it is important we look after our neighbours, says Derek. “We have had very productive conversa- tions and we’ve been able to accommodate any concerns they had.”