Waitakere looks to build superyacht hub

A Waitakere City Council business, Waitakere Properties, is seeking resource consents to start work on an $80 million precinct for superyachts.

Chief executive Greg Parker said the site would eventually provide up to 2000 jobs for locals.

"Around 56 per cent of those living in Waitakere City leave the area each day to work," he said.

"That places huge strains on the transport network and on the environment".

The first buildings at the Hobsonville development, Yard 37, are likely to be done by 2011 and are expected to grow into a 20ha marine industry hub capable of hosting superyachts up to 75m long.

The previous Labour-led Government put $2 million into the project in 2007, when then Economic Development Minister Trevor Mallard said New Zealand's share of the global superyacht market was 4 per cent.

Marine Industry Association executive director Peter Busfield said the industry expected to double its earnings by 2020 with "most of that coming from export sectors like the building and refitting of superyachts".

The sector needed a base, with a deepwater channel, able to cope with several superyachts at a time. It also needed to be close to a main centre so there was a good supply of skilled staff.

The industrial park will feature 100,000sq m of purpose-designed buildings, including 80,000sq m of specialist boat sheds, the company said.

Waitakere Properties will build the major infrastructure and this will pass into collective ownership by a precinct society.

- NZPA