Medical centre work under way

Fences went up last week around the former Mitsubishi Motors site in Reyburn St. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Work on what will be Whangarei's newest medical centre has begun.

The $5.6 million facility is being built on the 4350sq m former Mitsubishi Motors site in Reyburn St after the Northland Regional Council sold the land and buildings to Auckland-based Johnstone Group earlier this year.

Johnstone Group development manager Freya Johnstone says building and resource consents have been submitted and onsite work is under way. The medical centre is expected to be completed early next year.

She says the two existing buildings are being stripped back to their "bare bones" so refurbishment can begin.

A new building will be constructed to link the two structures where a pharmacy, new urgent care White Cross facility, with dental, X-ray and ultrasound, labtests and physio will be established.

Ms Johnstone says they hope a cafe will occupy one of the two vacant spaces.

The developers are in discussions with the district council on how best to develop the street front of the site to fit in with the Hihiaua Precinct Plan which sets out a long-term vision for the 16ha of central Whangarei land in the area.

The Hihiaua Plan encourages complementary mixed-use activities including residential, boutique retail, cafes, limited office, community services, entertainment and tourism.

It is bounded by the Hatea River, Waiarohia Stream and Reyburn St and includes the Hihiaua Peninsula, Lower Dent St, Reyburn House Lane, Herekino St and Finlayson St.

The plan, adopted by the district council in 2015, allows harbourside residential development up to four storeys high and "complementary mixed use activities".

It will be progressively implemented through partnership between public and private sectors, community groups, business owners and landowners during the next 20 to 30 years.