Boom for hoteliers as fire gutted factory rebuilt

Golden Bay accommodation providers are having their busiest winter in years as a result of the rebuilding of the Takaka Fonterra milk factory gutted by fire in June.

Many motels, hotels, backpacker hostels, guest houses and holiday homes from Takaka to Tata Beach are either full or have few vacancies.

They are expected to remain busy until the reopening of the $30 million milk powder plant, due to happen in November.

Fonterra's Clandeboye hub operations manager Alan Bennett said about 150 contractors were employed in rebuilding the plant, which meant accommodation in Golden Bay was now at a premium.

The project was on schedule and Fonterra was "pretty happy" with progress, he said.

The contractors' accommodation requirements are being co-ordinated by Golden Bay Visitor Information Centre manager Elizabeth Dransfield.

"Workers have been coming from North Cape to Bluff and they all want accommodation within a 15-minute drive of the factory," she said.

- nzpa