Centre to bring 12 jobs, says Z Energy

The site of the planned new Z Energy centre and truck stop on State Highway 2 near the Whakatane turnoff. Photo / John Borren

A planned $7 million Z Energy Centre comprising a service station and truck stop in Paengaroa will create about 12 jobs for the area.

Z Energy has applied for resource consent to build the development at 780 State Highway 2, Te Puke, near the Whakatane turnoff on land occupied by Fruitlands, which leases part of the site.

Z Energy spokeswoman Christine Langdon said the service station and truck stop would occupy about 60 per cent of the site and the development would include space for parking and picnicking, so motorists could rest on their journey.

Ms Langdon said Z Energy had entered into a sale and purchase agreement with the land's owners and there was no confirmed settlement date yet.

"Time frames for the new development depend on the resource consenting process, and once we have resource consent we'll work out dates for construction and opening," Ms Langdon said. "We'd like to build it as soon as possible because we think it will be a great facility for the area."

Ms Langdon said based on the plans, the company expected to invest about $7 million in the project.

Offering the full Z service, which included a forecourt concierge and barista, the development would create about 12 fulltime equivalent jobs for the area.

The development would be a great stopping off point for travellers coming into and out of Tauranga on the new expressway - especially as it will offer full food and coffee services and a landscaped picnic area and carparking for customers' use," Ms Langdon said.

"For truck drivers, it will be a place to fill up and to rest before and after loading and unloading at the busy Tauranga Port.

"For locals, we've designed it to have more space between the pumps to cater for farming vehicles and recognising the rural environment."

Ms Langdon said another bonus for the community would be the chance for local groups to benefit from Z's community investment programme, named Good in the Hood.

The programme each year gave away more than $1 million to charity causes throughout New Zealand.

The land owners could not be contacted for comment.

Submissions to the resource consent application close at 5pm on November 10.

The resource consent application can be viewed at Western Bay of Plenty District Council offices at Barkes Corner and Te Puke Library.