New Zealand property and building developer Calder Stewart has announced plans to develop one of Australasia’s largest industrial projects on over 500 hectares of land it has purchased at Awarua.

The 513ha industrial-zoned site is located approximately 10kms south of Invercargill in Awarua and is strategically located with road and rail connections to the Port of Bluff as well as Invercargill Airport.

Calder Stewart said in a statement that the size and scale of the new project would be unlike anything previously seen in New Zealand and is positioned to become a flagship for economic development in the south.

A cohesive, strategic approach is now being planned at Awarua, they said. 

Calder Stewart have been responsible for developments on a large scale in other parts of New Zealand, with Executive Director Alan Stewart pointing to the success of previous developments like Christchurch’s Hornby Quadrant, where consenting, roading, and infrastructure have all been implemented to support large-scale development.

Stewart said Calder Stewart had also been responsible for some of Invercargill’s most iconic buildings.

“We have built some of Southland’s most recognised buildings over the years, the ILT Velodrome, Bill Richardson Transport World and new Invercargill Kmart in particular,” said Stewart. “These are the types of buildings we’re proud to see each day. Now we’ll be adding another major location to this list.”

A collaborative approach will be crucial to the new endeavour, Stewart said, with Calder Stewart looking forward to working closely with the Invercargill City Council (ICC), local business leaders and people of Southland including mana whenua from Awarua Rūnanga.

“We are proud to help realise the initial vision of the ICC. It’s about maintaining and increasing the economic capability of Invercargill, strengthening the surrounding Southland region and local communities, and unlocking the potential opportunity of the land,” said Stewart.

The ICC purchased the former dairy farm in stages between 2006 and 2008, intending to facilitate industrial development for the city. 

The site’s unique location and nearby infrastructure strengths was a major drawcard for the investment, including direct lines from Manapouri which may provide clean energy to future tenants. This gave Calder Stewart high expectations for the sustainability credentials of Awarua, he said.

It is expected certain aspects of the site will be earmarked for protection and other areas for regeneration, with renewable energy and innovative sustainability approaches another key focus for the company, he said.  

By prioritising these initiatives and carefully developing the site to scale, Calder Stewart said it anticipated considerable national and international interest in major new development.