December 20 , 2000
15,000 New Jobs Likely From New Industrial Park In Manukau
HIGHBROOK BUSINESS PARK TO BE A CUTTING-EDGE “GREEN” DEVELOPMENT
The planned Highbrook Business Park in East Tamaki will create up to 15,000 jobs in ten years time, and be the most
advanced industrial estate in New Zealand, if not Australasia, Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis says.
Highbrook is to be developed on farmland on the Waiouru Peninsula, East Tamaki, adjacent to the Tamaki River. The land
was formerly occupied by Ra Ora Stud.
“It will comprise 500 acres of development and be a superbly landscaped environment with one-third of the land area set
aside as public open space managed by the Highbrook Trust, although it will be owned by Manukau City Council,” Sir Barry
said.
Sir Barry said “Highbrook will set a new standard, and I am delighted that the Council is assisting this development. It
is a first for our city, and will be the largest-scale and most exciting development of its kind in New Zealand. “
The design is the work of one of the world’s leading landscape designers, California-based Peter Walker, who has also
recently worked on landscaping projects for Olympic venues in Sydney.
“I know of no other planned business park where so much care is being taken to create a quality landscape for the public
to enjoy. Highbrook will have a park-like environment, with avenues of trees and large amounts of green, open space. The
plans will include measures to ensure the shoreline on the Tamaki River retains its natural, unspoilt features,” Sir
Barry said.
“The park will attract new-technology industries and other cutting edge businesses which are the future of employment in
New Zealand.
“And it is certainly coming at exactly the right time. With the thousands of jobs it will generate, Highbrook will
provide many opportunities for large numbers of school leavers in Manukau. Half the students who leave school each year
in our city seek work rather than go into tertiary education, and we need growing industries to provide jobs for them”.
Plans are underway for a road link from the Waiouru peninsula to the Southern Motorway across the Tamaki River, to
provide fast access to and from the area.
Sir Barry said “I would like to acknowledge the foresight and vision of the land owners. It is their commitment that is
driving the project, and will attract new and innovative industries to Highbrook from elsewhere in New Zealand and
overseas.”
ENDS
Media contact:
Gabrielle Hinton
Media Liaison Support Officer
Phone: 09 2628900 x 8650
Fax: 09 2625759
Email: ghinton@manukau.govt.nz