Limited employment opportunities are predicted from the $20 million intermodal freight hub development at Longburn during its first three months in the region.
Icepak, Ports of Auckland and Napier Port have formed a joint venture to create the intermodal freight hub development on the site of the former Longburn freezing works in the Manawatu.
According to the Manawatu Standard, construction of the facility is expected to be completed in November, with operation starting December 1.
A container yard and container wash facility will also be built, to prepare containers to export-ready standard. Port development was stage one of the upgrade.
Icepak chairman Wayne Gratton told the Manawatu Standard the company’s three to five year plan includes doubling its cold storage facilities.
Gratton says construction of the additional cool stores would start once the port is complete.
