Transport company expands

Land sold on the corner of Norman Ave and SH2, Carterton District. WAG 07Jan16 - SOLD: The new destination for McAuley's Transport (left), on the corner of Norman Ave and SH2, Carterton District.&

MCAULEY'S Transport is to move to Waingawa to realise its plans for expansion and to allow better access for its business.

The cartage company, that operates a nationwide freight service and specialises in water cartage to rural properties, will vacate its half-hectare Solway site in favour of a much larger block on the corner of SH2 and Norman Ave, bought from former Masterton mayor Garry Daniell.

Confirming the pending shift, company owner Colin McAuley said it was now in the planning stages.

"I am looking at the costing on buildings and where the transport depot will be situated on the block."

He said the depot will require a bit over half the land area which will allow for land "to develop other ventures".

Until now McAuley's has been working from its yard at Solway, on land just off the highway, situated between the intersection with Ngaumutawa Rd and Buchanan Place.

Plans to build a roundabout in the vicinity are still live and the transport company's shift would overcome any problems its trucks and tankers would encounter with that development.

The existing yard has already been sold, to neighbouring business Wairarapa Machinery Services.

Owner Tony Candy said the linking up of the land with what his business already owns would help access and improve safety.

McAuley's Transport plans to start building on its Waingawa site in the middle of next month and hopes to be able to relocate in July or August.

The company is especially well-known throughout Wairarapa for its water tanker delivery service, although Mr McAuley said so far this summer the call for water has been down on what was expected.

Predicted El Nino conditions had, in reality, meant only a few days of hot, dry weather "followed by a downpour".

"For us to get busy with water deliveries we need a month or so of hot weather," he said.