Ex-winery site calls for imagination and vision

The former Corban’s winery site in Gisborne’s main industrial area of Awapuni will be auctioned by Bayleys next month offering the chance to secure a substantial parcel of land close to the city in what has traditionally been a tightly-held location.

“Simply put, they’re not making any more centrally-located industrial land – that’s for sure,” says Colin McNab of Bayleys Gisborne who – along with Bayleys director James MacPherson – has been busy fielding calls from interested parties since word got out that the site – now owned by Pernod Ricard - will be sold.

“The Council has had to re-zone a large area to the west as rural-industrial to address Gisborne’s future industrial needs but Awapuni remains the focal point for this activity and seldom does the opportunity arise to buy here.
“The fact that this site is going to be auctioned has signalled to a wide range of people that it is now time for thinking caps to go on and for imaginations to run wild. This property has a magnitude of potential uses and prospective buyers should start talking to us so we can help brainstorm some possibilities.”
The 1.5691 hectare site is on the northern side of Solander Street in the Awapuni industrial subdivision close to the CBD, with Awapuni Road – a main arterial route - just 200 metres to the south.

“It is a strategic location for anyone wanting to draw from the CBD, be close to the port and the main road. You only have to take a look at the neighbouring businesses to see that this is a premium place to be,” says Mr MacPherson referencing the likes of Fulton Hogan, Cedenco Foods, Smash Palace, other Pernod Ricard wineries, GisVin plus major transport yards, workshops and warehouses.

“There’s quite an eclectic mix of businesses and that adds to the scope for this site. Whilst this was once a working winery and the Lindauer Cellars restaurant/cellar door, we urge people to see beyond those boundaries and think laterally with an eye to the future.”

The property is held in 10 freehold titles and is being auctioned as one lot. The titles are a mixed bunch with eight of them being in long, narrow strips with road frontage of around 10 metres. However, two of the titles - 9 Solander Street, the former restaurant and wine shop and 11 Solander Street, the former cellars – are of a more practical shape and could possibly, with appropriate consent, be sold off as individual lots in the future.
“We understand that subdivision – with appropriate consent – can take place down to 800sq m as per the Gisborne District Council’s Combined Regional Land and District Plan (19.14.7),” says Mr McNab.

“Whilst we can’t rule it out completely, it would take some considerable investment for the site to be returned to a functional winery operation. However, the buildings and associated infrastructure could be adapted and utilised for other liquid storage, cool stores, or crop processing – any number of possibilities.

“Or taking a completely different approach, the structures could be converted for use as a wholesale or retail outlet, storage, workshops, a transport operations base – or even training facilities or recreational usage.”

Large scale recreation facilities such as a ten pin bowling arena or a karting track could suit the location (with prospective purchasers naturally needing to investigate the usual Council consent processes) or the existing restaurant building could be revitalised and relaunched as an entertainment venue.
“Chances are that someone will have a vision for this site but they won’t require the whole area, so subleasing parts of it is always an option. A visionary buyer will recognise the inherent value that industrial land so close to the city has both now and - more importantly - in the future,” says Mr MacPherson.

“This is your classic ‘land bank’ opportunity and you don’t often get that chance in Gisborne. Investors from other parts of the country would be staggered to see how far their money would go in this forward-thinking region. Putting it in a national context, this is a value-laden offering and given the daily airline services, the strong port infrastructure and the accessibility to the main arterial roads, this site has some real positives.”

With the auction of 9-19 Solander Road set down for 19 March at Bayleys Gisborne, Mr McNab and Mr MacPherson know they are in for a busy month as savvy investors and owner-operators continue to think of ways to best utilise this strategic property.

“Pick up the phone and talk to us – we have had enquiry from people who love the location and have the resources yet won’t necessarily be in a position to utilise the whole site. We could be the ‘connector’ here for some exciting options,” says Mr McNab.