Kia ora koutou katoa,
A move down the COVID-19 alert levels for the Waikato on 31 August saw construction work resume on the site of the Ruakura Superhub across four major fronts:
- Continued site formation for the Inland port, logistics and industrial zones and wetland
- Development of the local roading network
- Site formation for the future Waitomo Group Service Centre (1.6 hectares)
- Site formation and preparation work for the new regional hub for PBT Express Freight Network.
The elements above are all part of the 92-hectare Phase 1 of Ruakura Superhub which is on track for a mid-2022 opening. Major contractors currently active on the site include C&R Developments, Schick Civil Construction, Cambridge Construction and Calder Stewart.
Local residents and people who work and study in the area are asked to note that Stage 2 and Stage 3 of the Ruakura Road closures for the Urban Upgrade project are going ahead in October. More detailed information will be published by Hamilton City Council (HCC) in the coming weeks.
Construction of the PBT Building is also scheduled to commence at the end of September and there will be an increased number of vehicles accessing the site from the current Ruakura Road.
Welcoming Denley Hira to the Ruakura team
With development work expanding by the day on site, TGH is pleased to welcome our new Development Co-ordinator Denley Hira to the team. Here is Denley’s pepeha:
Ko Maungakawa te Maunga
Ko Waikato te Awa
Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Ngaati Haua te Iwi
Ko Te Iti O Haua te Hapu
Ko Tauwhare te Marae
Ko Denley Raimapaha Hira toku ingoa.
Denley has been closely following progress at Ruakura since 2013, when the first application for a Private Plan Change was lodged. She is a member of Ngaati Haaua and brings eight years of experience working in the HCC Facilities and Infrastructure Units, gaining insights into Three Waters, transportation, development, facilities management, building renewals and local government process. She holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Business Studies degree from the University of Waikato. Welcome Denley!
Update on tenanting
Over the past 18 months PBT Express Freight and Waitomo Group have been confirmed as tenants, and Port of Tauranga has committed as a joint venture partner for the inland port.
Tenant enquiry has recently surged with an increase in e-commerce as well as a move by businesses to hold more products closer to customers in response to disrupted supply chains. TGH has recently entered Heads of Agreement with two major players, and is in advanced negotiations with a further three internationally significant businesses, plus a range of competitive tendering and advanced discussion situations with several other parties.
Wayfinding
International agency Diadem has been engaged to help design the tenant and visitor experience for Ruakura Superhub. They are developing a clear and simple hierarchy of signage and meaningful conventions for street and location names to make it easy for people to approach, navigate and depart the precinct. Naming conventions are part of this brief and our Tangata Whenua Working Group is advising on appropriate name selections for recommendation to the HCC and NZTA.
Rgds,
Project Team
Ruakura Superhub