$65m plan for hub of hi-tech industry

A massive $65 million development incorporating a technology park, apartments and shops is planned for Sulphur Point.
The development in Cross Rd is tipped to become the city's hub for information and communications technology industries, with construction starting in 2009 if the project clears planning hurdles.
It will complement the proposed marine industry business cluster proposed for the nearby council-owned former Benchmark site on Mirrielees Rd.
The 2.5ha site earmarked for the technology park currently houses the new Fort Nautilus boat stack and apartments, together with older buildings containing various marine-oriented shops and businesses.
Irish developer Aidan Harrison plans to progressively demolish the older buildings and replace them with a development where the main focus would be an 11,200sq m office building housing the technology businesses.
His company, Channor NZ, has spent $17.4 million buying the land, which he hopes will also feature a 74-unit apartment complex covering another 11,200sq m of floor area.
The other 3300sq m focus of Mr Harrison's mixed-use business park will be enterprises associated with the area's marine recreation aims such as a cafe, deli, restaurant, outdoor education, and the sale and hire of marine sports equipment. Existing tenants will be offered new premises.
Ancillary business to complement the mixed use of the site include a 500sq m gymnasium, a childcare centre, and a small convenience store.
Pivotal to the success of the project was car parking. Plans called for construction of a 600-space parking building, with a further 80 car parks elsewhere.
But the land's industrial business zoning meant challenging planning issues faced Mr Harrison's New Zealand project manager, John Keogh.
The application clashed with council planning rules on a number of points. The number of car parks exceeded 25, retailing and residential activities were not permitted activities, and basement carparks were below minimum harbour flood protection heights. Public submissions on the plan close on February 8.
Mr Harrison has already spent about $10m building the boat stack and apartments, and plans a small extension to increase the stack to 238 boats.
The planning application argued that suitably large sites were very difficult to come by in Tauranga's downtown CBD.
"Sulphur Point presents itself as the next best alternative ... it increases the opportunities for high-skill and high-wage employment in the region."
Purchasers of apartments would sign a covenant to ensure there was no comeback on the developer from smells from the adjacent Chapel St sewage treatment works. Another covenant would protect the Port of Tauranga from residents complaining about container terminal operations.