Huge facility offers scope to expand

A 14,000sq m manufacturing and warehousing facility in the industrial hub of East Tamaki, South Auckland, is being marketed for lease or sale by Andrew Hooper, Greg Goldfinch and Paul Higgins of Colliers International on behalf of Direct Property Fund.

Offers on 18 Ron Driver Place close at 4pm on Wednesday, April 18.

"It's very unusual to find such a large, modern industrial property in East Tamaki available for occupation," says Hooper. "The office space is absolutely top-notch, and the facility provides modern, high-quality warehousing or factory space."

He says that because of its size and convenient location, the property would suit a variety of industrial users. "The facility could be used as a distribution centre, warehouse or manufacturing space and could possibly be split to suit more than one occupier."

The property is spread over a 2ha site on two titles and is offered with vacant possession, having previously housed a manufacturing business. Built in two stages between 1991 and 2000, it comprises two warehouses and a two-level office, staff amenity and showroom area.

The first warehouse takes up 5083sq m in floor area, with a 506sq m extension featuring rails for two 16-tonne gantry cranes. The second warehouse is 5273sq m in size.

Goldfinch says that high-quality offices, meeting and entertaining areas are among the property'smain assets.

"The office areas are spread over two levels and feature boardrooms, a central atrium, a bar, staff cafeteria and landscaped outdoor paved courtyard."

Other facilities include vehicle garaging, a hardware store and canopy areas, with roller doors and drive-around access allowing ease of deliveries and transport.

"In addition there is 1160sq m of development land which offers further flexibility for a future occupier," Goldfinch says. "This would allow the property to be expanded further to provide, for example, extra storage space or canopy areas."

The property has three separate vehicle entrances off two roads: Greenmount Drive and Ron Driver Place which is connected via Nandina Ave to Harris Rd, a major north-south arterial route.

Higgins says that East Tamaki has become one of Auckland's pre-eminent industrial areas.

"The suburb has seen a substantial volume of new developments over the years, and has firmly established itself as a high-quality and well-recognised industrial address," he says.

"East Tamaki has become home to many 'big sheds' housing large-scale firms with a trend over the past five to six years for large companies to relocate from traditional industrial suburbs like Penrose and Mt Wellington. Land is more freely available in East Tamaki and the area has quick access to the State Highway 1 Southern Motorway.

"The construction of the Highbrook SH1 interchange and four-lane Highbrook Drive made East Tamaki far more accessible and therefore more attractive to industrial occupiers. This has resulted in lower vacancy rates for industrial premises in the area."

Hooper says East Tamaki is also conveniently located for access to and from the surrounding suburbs including Botany, Pakuranga and Otara, which provide a reliable supply of blue- and white-collar workers.

Botany Downs Town Centre, only a short drive away, contains numerous retail and cafes outlets for employees.

A few of the major businesses operating in East Tamaki are Fisher & Paykel, OfficeMax, Steel & Tube, Vizy Packaging and Carter Holt Harvey.

The property lies within Auckland Council's Business 5 mixed zone, which is applied to areas of light and medium industry, offices and a limited range of retailing activity. Permitted activities within the zone include industry, offices, bars and cafes and warehousing.

"The retailing component of this zoning allows businesses to sell certain goods manufactured on-site, provided the floor area used for retail sales does not exceed stipulated size requirements," says Hooper.