Business park about to take flight

PROJECT ON TRACK: Russell Moylan of Civil Project Solutions is one of the developers and the project manager for the 18.5 hectare Aerodrome Business Park that is rapidly taking shape adjacent to Gisborne Airport. All but one of the 28 building sites have been purchased and some of the businesses involved — a mix of established local firms and some from outside the region — will be opening their doors in the near future. Picture by Paul Rickard

Businesses at Gisborne’s newest commercial development are just weeks from opening their doors, developers say.

Aerodrome Business Park at Aerodrome Road is an 18.5-hectare development consisting of 28 building sites ranging in size from 3360 square metres to 1.07 hectares, and project manager Russell Moylan says all but one of the sites has been purchased.

“Only one remains unsold, which is a one-hectare block zoned aviation and commercial.”

This zoning has meant some of the sites can be used for commercial development, or for aviation companies that deal with either helicopters or aircraft could set up at the business park.

The development has attracted strong interest, both locally and from outside the region, says Mr Moylan.

“We’ve got businesses coming in from out of town. One of them is potentially bringing a large heavy-manufacturing business to Gisborne, which is pretty exciting.

“We felt the district was short of a quality commercial development and wanted to provide a cost-effective, resilient investment and business development opportunity for the region for the long term.”

Amongst those already building on-site are BP - McFall Fuel, which is in the final stages of completing a refuelling depot for its trucks.

Gisborne-based businesses AF Thompson Contracting, Heavy Equipment Services, Earthwork Solutions and Civil Project Solutions are also on-site building premises.

“There’s a lot happening out here,” Mr Moylan said.

“It’s exciting.

“The actual development itself is 100 percent complete.

“So, all the roading infrastructure is completely signed off. And now the individual purchasers are starting to set up.”

The first business should be opening its doors within a month.

Mr Moylan said the $10 million subdivision development was also creating ongoing work for local consultants and contractors.

“There must be 50 to 60 people at least working on-site today.

“All local contractors bar the specialist providers — everyone else is 100 percent local.

“The project itself has gone well — the council has been supportive, as have Ngai Tawhiri Working Group who we worked closely with.

“One of the things we are most proud of is the restoration of the Waikanae Stream bank which involved the planting of 6000 natives. This has greatly enhanced the area, which is accessible via a footpath.

“We want this to be a statement for Gisborne as a high-end development we can all be proud of.”