A large block of undeveloped land identified as big enough to accommodate an approved new industrial or commercial hub in the Waikato township of Morrinsville has been placed on the market for sale.
The 19,089 square metre flat freehold site is zoned for future commercial use, and has previously been consented by Matamata Piako District Council for the creation of a seven-lot commercial and industrial-tenanted precinct.
The land at 2603 State Highway 26 is positioned immediately beside land soon to be developed for the town’s forthcoming new Toyota dealership – containing vehicle showrooms and yard, along with full mechanical workshop premises.
Permitted activities under Matamata Piako District Council zoning bylaws for this part of town allow for the creation of such business activities as retail premises, offices, medical services, motor vehicle and agricultural sale yards, a service station, motor vehicle repairs premises, light industrial operations, or indoor/outdoor storage facilities.
The development bylaws allow for the construction of 12 metre high structures – bringing into play logistics, warehousing and freight forwarding building users, wanting to take advantage of the property’s immediate position adjacent to State Highway 26 which links Morrinsville and Hamilton.
The land is being marketed for sale at auction on October 27 by Bayleys Waikato. Salesperson Josh Smith said that with Morrinsville’s commercial zone now spreading toward Hamilton, the land at 2603 State Highway 26 was the next geographical progression.
“Morrrinsville’s commercial activity is growing in line with the general dairy-reliant economy of the Waikato and the population growth of Hamilton and its satellite townships within commuting distance of the city. As such, both existing businesses within Morrinsville, and new enterprise coming into the region are looking for premises to occupy,” Mr Smith says.
“Some of that can be accommodated, by the nature of the business, in the CBD. However, for other businesses, expansion will see the previous city/country belt encircling Morrinsville stretch further out into what was previously considered the fringe countryside locations.”
Matamata Piako District Council’s Town Strategies 2013 – 2033 Morrinsville document outlines that: “There will be a demand for 13 hectares of industrial land by 2033. It is (also) estimated that there will be a demand for eight hectares of business land by 2033.”
Mr Smith says the 2603 State Highway 26 site up for sale also sat specifically within the precinct identified by the report as being the preferred part of town for business and industrial premises expansion.
”Freight movements are likely to be predominantly from, and to the west (of Morrinsville), in the direction of Hamilton. This will minimise the need for heavy vehicles to travel through the town,’ said the 2013 – 2033 Morrinsville document.
“The inner industrial area (of Morrinsville) will appeal to service industries dependent on a central location for customer contact. The outer industrial area will have land available to locate new heavy industry, as well as light industries that are less dependent on passing trade or customer contact.”
Development and building intensification limitations on the provision of reticulated water, storm water and wastewater services to the north of Morrinsville, combined with the positioning of electrical transmission lines, sewerage ponds and peat soils, would also steer future expansion along the State Highway 26 corridor, Mr Smith said.
He says the local body’s guidelines on tenancy type would allow astute property developers to not only build premises which would find quick council approval through the necessary consenting process, but would also meet the demands of the future tenancy market.
“The intention could well be to develop a ‘destination’ fringe element to this sector of the existing Morrinsville township boundary,” he says.
“This new zone could encompass big-box retailing – with the likes of The Warehouse or Bunnings as the sole tenant on one single plot, building on the automotive sector theme – bearing in mind the ‘new’ neighbour, or bringing in a diverse array of smaller terraced style light industrial premises housing say building tradies or small to medium-sized farm servicing firms.
“From that perspective, the shape of the property would lend itself to subdivision and further development, with the end plan being the sell down of units to owner/occupiers.”
Mr Smith says two older style residential dwellings on the property would generate up to $30,000 holding income per annum while any new plans or development consents were acquired by a new owner.
The 2013 – 2033 Morrinsville report is forecasting the town’s population by between 44 – 55 households annually.
