Chalmers Group, 8 April 2016:The development of the new Te Rapa Gateway, 60 hectares of prime industrial land, has unlocked the potential of the important Rotokauri industrial area near Hamilton.

Te Rapa Gateway will add to what is one of the country’s fastest growing industrial epi-centres - situated on State Highway One, near the Waikato Expressway and the main north-south railway line. A major drawcard is also its proximity to The Base, New Zealand’s largest retail and leisure centre.

The development, coming on stream in five stages, has attracted excellent interest with 20 hectares earmarked for completion by July 2016.

David Chafer, General Manager of developers Chalmers Properties, says the industrial park was attracting interest across a range of sectors. “Companies which have already established themselves in the immediate area include Mainfreight, NZ Post, Norman's Transport & Storage, farm equipment supplier Lely NZ Ltd and the Porter Group.

“The beauty of a large scale development of this nature is the flexibility for Chalmers to design-build and lease, or sell sites. There are also strong covenants in place to ensure only a good mix of high quality businesses will operate in the park, protecting the value of the property.”

Zoned Rotokauri Industrial under the Hamilton City Council’s District Plan, Mr Chafer says the Te Rapa Gateway industrial park has an approved Comprehensive Development Plan meaning that industrial activity will require no further consent.

“In most cases only a building consent will be needed. It will be developed to the highest standard to ensure the sections are fully serviced and geo-engineered to meet the latest industrial requirements.

“The fully serviced industrial sites will include provision for ultra-fast broadband and a power supply of 11kv. Sites will suit all types of processing, manufacturing, bulk storage, warehousing, service and repair activities.”

Te Rapa Gateway is within 10 kilometres of Hamilton's CBD, an hour and quarter from Auckland and under an hour and a half’s drive from Port of Tauranga.

Mr Chafer says the proposed bus and rail links close to the industrial park will be an important feature for businesses and staff alike. “The Rotokauri planned urban area on the opposite side of the expressway will provide potential future customers for businesses moving to Te Rapa Gateway, as will the expressway from Hamilton to Auckland, which is due for completion by 2019.

“Te Rapa Gateway will provide all the amenities available within larger cities but with the benefit of more competitive land prices, cheaper housing and great transport connectivity.

"Additionally the industrial park is close to large residential areas with a plentiful supply of skilled labour."

The South Precinct and Arthur Porter Drive section of the Te Rapa Gateway Industrial Park were opened in June 2014 by Julie Hardaker, Mayor of Hamilton.

The main road through the new industrial subdivision is named after the late Arthur Porter, who founded the Waikato based Porter Group in 1945.