Business North November 2021

4 | REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Western Bay of Plenty Above and below - the Rangiuru Business Park is tipped to significantly stimulate industrial growth in the wider Bay of Plenty region. Region gearing up for growth T T from page 3 Mayor Webber says that the 148-hectare busi- ness park is the largest greenfield consented industrial zone in the Bay of Plenty and that it is first time a site of this size has come onto the local market in over a decade meaning a significant opportunity for businesses wanting to expand or relocate as well as new business ventures. It is serviced by rail (via the East Coast Main Trunk Line), State Highway 2 (Tauranga East- ern Link Motorway) and local roads. It is 24km to the Port of Tauranga. Mayor Webber says the project is the culmi - nation of a 15-year vision working closely with sub-regional partners. It is majority owned by Quayside Properties Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quayside Holdings Limited. Quayside is the investment arm of the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Toi Moana. The project received a boost via an $18m grant from the Provincial Growth Fund in 2020. It is expected to create around 4000 jobs and will provide a vital link between the eastern and western Bay of Plenty. Mark Boyle, managing director of Te Puke EDG says that Rangiuru Business Park will be hugely significant for the region. “It will potentially create around 4000 jobs in coming years and see many industries re- locating here including warehousing, logistics and other agribusiness. It will be a huge boost to our local economy.” Mark says that the agribusiness infra- structure and systems to cope with the huge growth are well managed. Likewise there are good schools and retail and town centre. But more housing is needed to meet demand. “As the growth of the region continues housing must keep up. We’d like to see more housing approved for the east of the Western Bay of Plenty,” he says. Mark says Te Puke is a great place to live with jobs, strong on-going economic indica - tors and lifestyle. “You are minutes from great beaches, mountains, hunting, fishing and cycling. It’s close to Whakatane, Tauranga and Rotorua. “We’re a high producing agribusiness area with a well-established community; it’s a great place to live. We’re in a tremendous growth period and we’re all about being future focused.” Nigel Tutt, the chief executive of West- ern Bay of Plenty economic development organisation Priority One, says the region’s strong horticulture industry is a key driver for economic growth, with 40% of New Zealand’s kiwifruit crop grown in the region. “It is a rare industry that has gained higher prices alongside increased supply and has an excellent growth outlook,” he says. The industry is currently in a boom with 250ha of new plantings each year creating around 500 jobs annually. This has been driven by international demand for product and has seen many hor- ticultural companies and processors experi- ence huge growth. “There are also a huge number of business- es aligned to the agribusiness industry that have been kept busy in a flow-on effect. “It will be important for us to ensure availa- bility of talent for the industry and to ensure that the supply chains to export markets are efficient so that we can realise future growth. “The Port of Tauranga is an important asset for the region in supporting these exporters.”