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

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