Media Release
9 November 2012
Waterloo Business Park Shows Confidence In Christchurch
Substantial propertyinvestors from outside Christchurch are signalling their confidence in the city with the unveiling
of the $400-million Waterloo Business Park in the prime industrial area of Hornby.
The project is a joint venture between highly experienced operators John Sax, of Auckland-based Southpark Corporation
Ltd, and Inky Tulloch’s Southland-based investment company. It was officially launched by Minister Gerry Brownlee last
evening (Thursday, Nov 8).
Waterloo Business Park is a new generation 114 hectare business park, bounded by Pound and Waterloo Rds. It is one of
the biggest in New Zealand and the same size as Highbrook, Auckland’s largest master-planned business site.
The owners are creating a fully landscaped business park complete with a central hub and plaza. It will feature
fountains, boulevard style roads, attractive outdoor areas and amenities such as a gym and cafes.
Work on the $30 million infrastructure is set to begin later this month, with the sprawling site to be developed in
stages over several years. The site is TC1 land with the ensuing benefits around foundations when building.
John Sax, whose Auckland company is the largest holder of vacant land within Penrose, Mt Wellington and the Onehunga areas, said the Christchurch market presented immense opportunities for
developers and investors.
“I believe that developers are really looking anew at Christchurch, which will go through the most incredible growth
over the next decade. The attention is certainly on opportunities in the city.
“ We are absolutely confident of business growth in Christchurch and Waterloo Business Park is designed to meet the
burgeoning demand for warehousing and logistics as well as light industry and manufacturing as the rebuild gains
momentum,” Sax said.
“Businesses are crying out for quality industrial space and Hornby has always been at the forefront ofpreferred options
for firms. Obviously since the earthquakes, the demand has soared especially as some other industrial areas are deemed
undesirable forreinvestment.
“Hornby’s importance as a distribution hub is growing by the day backed by its easy access to the major roading networks
linking north and south, plus to the port and airport. There is also the adjacent railway line which may ultimately give
some lots at Waterloo Business Park direct rail access.”
Sax estimated construction of Waterloo Business Park would cost up to $400 million, and that 5000 people would be
employed by companies within the complex on completion.
“That’s in addition to the many hundreds of jobs created in the development and construction phases.”
He said Waterloo Business Park would offer a wide range of opportunities for business development ranging from larger
scale industrial and distribution uses on the bigger sites, to a variety of more intensive uses on the smaller central
sites.
Sax said the development would be markedly different from any other business parks in Christchurch because of its
aesthetic emphasis.
“We are spending a lot of money to make sure this is an absolutely premium development. Business parks can be pretty
arid and grey; we are paying close attention to master planning, including water features, green park like courtyards
and paved boulevards. It will also have a network of cycle and running tracks.”
A Sales and Administration Office will soon be opened on site.
About the developers
Southpark Corporation specialises in commercial, industrial and residential property development and management, as well
as utilities distribution. To date the company has successfully completed over 150projects mainly for internationally recognised companies. It is the largest holder of vacant land within Penrose, Mt Wellington and the Onehunga areas, with significant landholdings in Newmarket, Manukau, Orewa and now
in Takapuna. Southpark has been a leader in the redevelopment of much of the former "smoke stack industries" within
Auckland such as Southdown Freezing Works - formerly owned by Affco, Hellaby Works, Shortland Works, Taniwha Works,
Pikes Point, Roscommon Quarries and others.
Tulloch’s investment company is jointly owned by Tulloch and fellow Southlander Paul Johnstone, the pair having been
involved in several business projects in the past. Tulloch is well known for his feats in the motor sport arena, and
also in politics where he has been Mayor of the Gore District and also party president of United Future. He has wide
business interests, ranging from transport and meat processing, through to pastoral farming, dairying and property
management.
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ENDS