Port of Tauranga

Port helps deliver a Champion solution

Posted on 23rd August 2005

Producing the nation’s daily bread will become a more efficient operation with Goodman Fielder and the Port of Tauranga joining together to build a new multi-million dollar grain storage facility in Tauranga.

The new facility is needed thanks to the growth that Goodman Fielder’s Champion Flour Mill has experienced since all the company’s New Zealand North Island Milling operations were centralised at Tauranga five years ago.

North Island Operations Manager for Champion Flour Mills, Gary Urwin, says this growth means the business is running out of grain storage capacity.

“We are now going to address this with the construction of a purpose-built 20,000 tonne capacity grain store at the corner of Totara and Hull St.

“We needed to build the store on Port land as this means it is within the Port quarantine zone, like our existing Champion Mill. In practical terms, this means the grain is quarantined until after it has been milled into flour.”

The store will be built by local builders Marra Construction. It will be 19.7m high, 85m long and 48m wide.

Mr Urwin says the store will made from concrete with a colour steel roof designed to tone in with the environment and construction is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

He says the new store is a vital part of Champion’s business plans.

“We’re delighted to be using a local firm for the construction and to be able to continue to generate jobs and activity within the city.”

Port of Tauranga’s Property Manager, Tony Reynish, says the new store will enable the Port to service Goodman Fielder more effectively.

“In this instance we are fortunate to be in the situation of having the land resources available to accommodate both this new facility as well as the existing Champion Mill, which is the largest in New Zealand.”

With Goodman Fielder’s decision to consolidate its business in Tauranga we have been able to work together to develop long-term solutions that will maximise the efficiency and cost-benefits to their business.

For further information:

Tony Reynish
Property Manager
Port of Tauranga Ltd
Phone: 07 572 8899