Vision will bring former works site to life

Part of what used to be the largest brick facade in the Southern Hemisphere remains at the Kaiti Freezing Works site. Photo / Supplied

Gisborne District Council is looking to sell or lease the last remaining building of the Kaiti Freezing Works plus about 2000sq m of the city's Port A-zoned land.

The property is being offered via an expressions of interest campaign, through Bayleys, closing August 25.

Sales manager for Bayleys Gisborne Karen Raureti is co-ordinating the campaign and says interested parties should contact her to formally register what their plans for the property may be and to indicate the value they would be prepared to pay. Council will then decide whether the building will be sold or leased.

Under the district plan's zoning the history of the building since the closure of the freezing works has been hospitality-based.

The original Kaiti Freezing Works was famed for having the largest brick facade in the Southern Hemisphere, but only a piece of the structure remains from when most of the buildings were demolished in 1996.

The only remaining portion of the brick building, which formerly housed the Works Winery and Restaurant, was once the works' sausage-making factory and later the dry store, while upstairs was the carpenters' workshop.

In its heyday, the freezing works was one of five operating on the East Coast but by 1952 it was the only one remaining. On August 19, 1994, the imposing wrought-iron gates, which still stand today, were closed to 650 workers when liquidators came in to wind up the company. Raureti says the council has identified the building as integral to the future redevelopment and beautification of the city's inner-harbour area. "A major structural strengthening programme is currently under way to ensure that that this important piece of Gisborne's history is retained for future generations," she says.

"It's a striking building that was acquired under a land swap agreement with Eastland Port and the Gisborne District Council agreed to undertake structural repairs vital to the ongoing longevity of the character-filled building, which has a special place in the hearts and minds of so many Gisborne folk."

Matt Feisst, the council's commercial property manager, says a commitment has been made to save the landmark building but a solid plan is now needed as to how the building will be best used.

"The building is currently vacant," Feisst says. "Earthquake strengthening work was necessary so the building complied with building standards and scheduled work includes new foundations, structural steel strengthening and a new roof to bring the building to 67 per cent compliance.

"The council has a contract to purchase the land and buildings under an arrangement with Eastland Port but, for now, we are leasing the property while strengthening work is carried out."

Feisst says that without the council's intervention, the building could have been demolished and part of Gisborne's industrial heritage would have been lost forever.

"We recognise that the building is historically significant to the city."

Bayleys Gisborne has been appointed to present the building to the public by way of a targeted marketing campaign in order to get as much exposure for the property as possible before a decision is made on its future. Feisst says the building effectively "anchors" the public space around the inner harbour. As such, it is important that the council finds the best owner or operator for the property.

"The look and feel of the building is central to council's plans for the area as a whole to be a destination for people to enjoy. We would like to create a pedestrian-friendly multi-use green space that could be a hub for events and which would ensure that the inner-harbour area is a useable space," Feisst says.

It was hoped that commercially viable proposals would be received through the marketing campaign from people who were genuinely interested in the revitalisation of the inner-harbour area.

Once proposals have been received - whether from potential lessees or parties interested in purchasing the land and buildings for commercial use - the council will weigh up the options to see which ones align with its own vision.