50 new jobs and 2.5ha of buildings for Irongate

Sunfruit MD John Altham,, Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule, Sunfruit GM Tim Altham and HDC strategic projects manager Raoul Oosterkamp look at plans for the new development.

Two-and-a-half hectares of building and 50 new jobs for the beleaguered Irongate industrial precinct south of Hastings will be in place for the 2018 pipfruit season.

Family-owned Sunfruit Orchards will no longer truck apples to Hamilton for packing and instead move operations to the development which will dominate the area.

"This new development, which incorporates 2.5 ha of buildings, will expand our ability to deliver our PickMee branded fruit direct to supermarkets and to meet the most stringent international compliance standards in both quality and food safety" managing director John Altham said.

A new facility was the best option and the Irongate industrial zone was close to both orchards and the Hawke's Bay Expressway to Napier Port, he said.

Irongate landowners have long disputed development charges needed to provide infrastructure, saying they should be able to self-service using soak-hole drains and independent water supplies from the underground aquifer.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule said the Sunfruit development meant a water pipe from Flaxmere would now be installed, as well as a sewer line.

"This is a massive complex and it really kick-starts the whole Irongate development," he said.

No inducement was offered to Sunfruit but, in time, it may qualify for a job-creation grant from council as water bottler Miracle Water recently did with $50,000, he said.

"That hasn't been put on the table yet but with 50 new jobs they will qualify."

The development was expected to be finished by September next year and the council had worked hard "to help ensure that this project had a successful conclusion".

One staff member was the dedicated go-to person for the development, to ensure no red-tape tangles.

"It has been a lot of work with a short turnaround but it is very exciting."

Mr Altham said the council proved to be "very proactive and constructive".

"We are pleased to have led the way in kick-starting development in the Irongate industrial zone.

"The horticultural industry, including apples and pears, is going through rapid growth and this will continue to add significantly to the economy of the Hawkes Bay region".

Pipfruit New Zealand chief executive Alan Pollard said this year's harvest was about 6 per cent per cent up on last year.

Industry returns are forecast to top $700 million, compared with last season's bumper $630 million.

In 2012 returns were $341 million, so if this year's forecast was met the industry would enjoy a 105 per cent increase in four years.

Sunfruit's development is another landmark for a Hastings.

Hastings District Council has been quick to take up economic opportunities. Miracle Water, despite xenophobic opposition, has brought a new industry and permanent jobs to the region that suffers from a shortage of non-seasonal jobs. Kiwibank opened a call centre last year in the CBD with more than 100 new jobs.