In case you missed it: News bites for the week.
Local logistics company ContainerCo – which was established in 2013 – has opened a new 3.3-hectare container depot at the Ruakura Inland Port, replacing its existing 1.3ha site.
The new facility provides a range of container management services, including container surveying, repairs, wash bay, and pre-trip inspections. The depot will increase ContainerCo’s capacity by 4000 20-foot equivalent containers.
“Our Ruakura operation is a key hub in the ‘Golden Triangle’ and, with the growth we’re seeing in the greater Waikato region, we needed to make this move to continue delivering the innovative solutions our customers expect,” ContainerCo chief executive Wayne Johnson said in a statement.
ContainerCo is jointly owned by Kenneth Harris and the local arm of Cosco Shipping Lines. It operates in partnership with the Ruakura Inland Port.
The port is a joint venture between Port of Tauranga and Tainui Group Holdings.
Meridan has confirmed it will go ahead with construction of a $227 million solar farm at Ruakākā in Northland.
Contracts for construction, operation and maintenance have been awarded to UK-headquartered renewable energy developer Ethical Power.
Meridian chief executive Neal Barclay said the 130MW project, the company’s first solar farm, was “special”.
“Ruakākā Solar Farm is part of a wave of new builds that are boosting the country’s energy supply,” he said.
“These are busy times for Meridian and many others investing in the generation market, and our collective efforts will enable more electricity use, provide alternatives to thermal fuels and boost the country’s energy security in dry years.”
The farm will have 250,000 solar panels covering about 170ha.
Cardrona Scoop.
RealNZ, the owner of Cardrona Alpine Resort, has signed a memorandum of understanding with a former winter Olympic host venue, the Chongli District Ice and Snow Association. Describing it as a "significant step" for the future of New Zealand on the international ski tourism stage, the Queenstown-based company said the agreement will focus on collaboration across talent, product development, marketing initiatives, and industry training. The Chongli region hosted a number of events during the 2022 Winter Olympics in China, while Wanaka's Cardrona will lay claim to the country's largest ski-field this year, with the opening of 150 hectares of new terrain at its Soho basin.
An Auckland Council report into the feasibility of two stadium proposals has found neither completely stacks up. It says the proposed revamp of Eden Park is feasible in most respects but is not currently financially feasible as it depends on additional council and/or central government funding. The report found the other contender, Te Tōangaroa/Quay Park, has not demonstrated the feasibility of its proposal and council has a low level of confidence in its deliverability. Auckland Council will consider the next stage at a meeting on Thursday.
The Wellington region is set to lose an electorate as part the Representation Commission’s redrawing of electorate boundaries. Under its proposed changes, Ohariu disappears, with Wellington Central expanding into Wadestown, Ngaio, and Khandallah. Rongotai’s boundary also pushes north to gain Mt Cook and Brooklyn, and Hutt South includes part of Newlands. Two new electorates – Kenepuru and Kāpiti – are created from the existing electorates of Ohariu, Mana, and Ōtaki. There are changes in boundaries elsewhere in the North Island but no loss of electorates. The public can object to the proposed boundaries by April 27 and then public hearings will be held in June before the commission presents its final report on August 8.
Contact Energy says it will appeal the rejection of its Southland Wind Farm in a resource consent decision issued last week.
