>
ContainerCo consolidates container depot operations
ContainerCo (NZL) Limited (ContainerCo), is set to move part of its container depot operations from Battery Road, a move that has thrilled nearby residents.
ContainerCo’s managing director Ken Harris today said with the busy fruit export season now over, the company was in a better position to consolidate its container storage and maintenance services to its Onekawa site in Austin Street. It will also use part of its new site in Mersey Street, which is under construction.
“We have been winding down the Battery Road site for the last couple of months and we’re now in a position to fully exit and consolidate on our other sites.
“We have worked closely with the residents of Battery Road and Napier hill for the last five years to mitigate the noise and visual impact and I’m sure they will be happy with the announcement.
NZL formed a resident stakeholder group soon after setting up at Battery Road.
Battery Road property owner Ian McKinnon said the announcement was great news for residents and said it was now important that Napier City Council notify residents of any new tenant.
“The land is zoned ‘mixed use’ but is surrounded by houses and we need to ensure that we don’t have activity pop up on the site that disrupts our environment.
“Napier City Council needs to ensure that any new activity is publicly notified,” Mr McKinnon said.
Mr Harris said the local export sector is growing in the region, and to support this growth both NZL and sister company ContainerCo (NZL) were committed to investing in both Hastings and Napier.
Demand for facilities in Hastings in particular was driving employment and investment thinking within the company but over the next two years CCNZL’s Mersey Street facility would also develop a range of facilities to meet shipper requirements.
ContainerCo is New Zealand’s largest independent container depot operator with depots in Tauranga, Auckland, Napier and Christchurch; adjacent to the country’s four largest container ports. Its customers include some of the world’s largest shipping lines.
The sector is expected to generate further demand for services, with container volumes experiencing compound annual growth of 4.3% over the last five years. This growth is projected to accelerate due to the increasing containerisation of New Zealand’s bulk cargo.
Since 2012, 40 foot and 20 foot container volumes entering and leaving New Zealand have grown by 16% and 8%, respectively. The increase in container volumes is putting pressure on port facilities, creating demand for standalone container storage and repair depots.
Ken Harris said, “Demand for off-port container processing and storage has steadily grown and this site is important as it is near port and rail infrastructure, reducing truck movements and exporter and importer costs.
About ContainerCo
ContainerCo (NZL) Limited (ContainerCo) is New Zealand’s largest independent container depot storage and repair business and also operates a growing container hire and sales business. The company’s facilities provide key infrastructure services that support the growth of this country’s exports and the increasing containerisation of New Zealand’s bulk cargo.
The container depot business operates in the four regions near New Zealand’s largest container ports (Ports of Auckland, Port of Tauranga, Lyttelton Port of Christchurch and Napier Port). Employing 150 staff across these four locations, in the 12 months to 31 March 2016, ContainerCo handled, repaired, stored and serviced some 329,000 TEUs (20 foot equivalent container units).
For further information, see: www.containerco.co.nz