Allied buys Blenheim holiday park

Blue collar labour hire firm Allied Workforce (AWF) said today it has bought a Blenheim-based holiday park to house seasonal workers in the region.

AWF spinoff Contract Labour Services (CLS) bought the Spring Creek Holiday park, 6km from Blenheim, for $1.8 million.

AWF chief executive Simon Hull said Marlborough -- with its dozens of vineyards -- was a key growth area for the company, but that had been hampered by a lack of suitable accommodation.

The Spring Creek purchase meant CLS could provide accommodation for several hundred workers at the peak of the pruning season.

The park could accommodate up to 280 visitors and was a popular stopover for tourists en route to the Cook Straight ferry.

"We intend establishing the Spring Creek Holiday Park as the first point of contact for all travellers and tourists who either simply need reasonably priced accommodation or who are looking for help and assistance in finding casual and seasonal work in the area," Mr Hull said.

The purchase would be settled next month.

Shares in AWF last traded yesterday at $1.33.

- NZPA