Interest in Papamoa East builds

Derek Roser says a hospitality concept is hoping to finalise a lease.

Papamoa East is beginning to attract some interest, with at least one new business hoping to set up soon, says Chamber of Commerce smart economy business adviser Derek Roser.

At this stage, the business details are confidential, but Mr Roser said a novel cafe type hospitality concept was hoping to finalise its lease arrangements within the next month.

Mr Roser advises small business at the conceptual stage, and when they are a year or so into the start-up stage. He said during the past couple of months, he had seen some signs of increased interest in Papamoa East.

The area has industrial estate space for lease, and with the growth in housing and retail and the completion of new roading developments could eventually become a sub-hub for Papamoa and for the Mount.

"When they finish all the roading, people will eventually be prepared to drive further away from the Mount for recreation and entertainment," he said.

Priority One chief executive Andrew Coker said Papamoa East - along with the Tauriko Business Estate - was one of the areas with industrial zoned land available that the economic agency offered to incoming businesses.

Various people had looked at setting up in the area but, at this stage, he was not aware of any major big businesses planning to relocate from outside Tauranga to the Papamoa East the area.

He said: "It all comes down to what the business needs in terms of issues like access to the port and workforce, access to markets, infrastructure and, of course, costs."