New Greytown industries to bring more jobs

A multi-million dollar development to build a new industrial park in Greytown has begun, with work on the first building now started.

The first business on-site will be Athol F Ross Ltd, a long-standing Greytown panel beating and spray painting business, which now stands on the corner of North Rd and Main St, on Greytown Trust Lands Trust land.

The trust is developing the 3.6-hectare park, called Bidwills Cutting Industrial Park, on land opposite Kuranui College, on the Greytown-Martinborough Rd.

Trust manager Stuart Roper said the trust wanted to shift Athol Ross to a better building and it should be able to move in about three months.

"They're very happy to move into a new building, it's going to be superb," Mr Roper said.

He said the concept of an industrial park began about four years ago with a zone change application from rural land to industrial.

The application was confirmed by South Wairarapa District Council last November.

"It took a while to get the zone change through ... we had to overcome some of the objections, really looking at safety from the New Zealand Transport Agency, in regards to potential traffic that could come as a result," Mr Roper said.

The trust will be doing some major service connections on State Highway 2 and is looking at doing a road extension.

Mr Roper said the industrial park would bring huge benefits for Greytown.

"It's a great opportunity, with having the school across the road. Athol Ross Ltd take some of the kids for work experience, we'd like to see that continue.

"It's really trying to bring industry in, and help the economy and employment," he said.

A second building is out for tender and the trust hopes it will be completed by the end of January.

Mr Roper said the area could fit up to about 10 buildings.

Mr Roper said the industrial park would concentrate industry into a specific area and protect Greytown's heritage areas.

He said the park's location is a prime spot.

The trust let the first building contract to Holmes Construction, and first stage roading and services to Pope and Gray Contractors. Mr Roper said the trust was unsure at this stage of the costs of the entire development.

"The intention is that the trust will spend several million dollars, so it's a big spend."

South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples supports the development.

"It's a privately owned bit of land that has consent, so anything that brings business to Greytown is great," she said.

"My understanding is that it's a quality development. I'm very pleased with the outcome."