30 Jun 2009
Crucial for Kawerau to monitor development opportunities, report says
Short-term opportunities to establish a logistics and distribution hub at Kawerau are highly uncertain and dependent on key players' commercial needs, a preliminary investigation has found.
But while acquiring suitable land to establish a hub may be a challenge due to access difficulties for both road and rail, longer-term possibilities may exist, the report says. However it will be critical for Kawerau to be well positioned to respond to development opportunities when they arise.
The report, initiated by Toi-EDA recommends that the economic development agency and the councils keep a close eye on commercial activity in the logistics and distribution sector in the region, the availability of land around the port of Tauranga, logistics and distribution developments in other industrial sites, and investment in rail capacity and upgrades to rolling stock.
They should also maintain contact with key commercial decision-makers at KiwiRail, the mills and Port of Tauranga at both formal and informal levels, the report says.
This preliminary investigation included a literature review to form an economic overview of the region and to survey current planning and strategic thinking. Sector and professional interviews were based around the regional economy, locational issues and the prospects of a range of economic development opportunities.
It presents the region's three councils and local industry with valuable information that was not previously available and will form the basis for in-depth discussions in the future.
It will also help key companies better understand the value of the rail link from Kawerau to the Port of Tauranga and will influence how the logistics and distribution opportunities for the area are described in future regional strategy development.
More news from Toi-EDA
