Largest shed in north

United Carriers is to build a huge new freight redistribution centre on a plateau site in Rewarewa Rd in Whangarei, enabling the company to run a complete "under-cover operation".

The company will spend $12.5 million on a 13,200sq m building which CEO Agit Balasingham said will be the largest in Northland. The project will consume 5000 tonnes of steel and 6000 tonnes of concrete, and construction is scheduled to begin later this month.

After deflecting enquiries about their plans for months, United Carriers finally went public with the plans at a function in Whangarei last night.

Mr Balasingham, who part-owns the business, said the building's huge storage areas and 4000sq m of canopies meant the company would be able to work in all weathers.

United would be able to increase the amount of freight processed daily from 1100 cubic metres to more than 3000 cubic metres, the equivalent of more than 30 truckloads a day, he said. The company would be able to offer customers "a total solution for their freight, storage and distribution needs throughout Northland". "Many of them have limited on-site storage and we will be able to offer them a range of warehousing solutions," he said.

Mr Balasingham said last night that the new centre - which United is calling "The Hub" - was "a serious commitment by United to growing our business in Northland".

"We believe in a strong future for Whangarei and Northland and this $12.5m investment is an emphatic demonstration of this.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)