A large, sprawling property in a prominent location south of Whangārei represents a substantial development opportunity in one of New Zealand’s growth regions for buyers searching for a vast land holding with an existing onsite business.
Number 4 & 6 Loop Road, Otaika is a 29.5ha site located on the corner of the State Highway 1 and 15 roundabout, less than 5km south of Whangārei’s city centre, and has been partly used as a quarrying operation for nearly 50 years.
The current resource consent for quarrying at the property runs until March 2030 and the new buyer could continue to run the quarry or reposition the site for a variety of uses.
There is also a Northland Regional Council consent to undertake activities associated with a heavy machinery training centre, but the property is now surplus to requirements for the current owners.
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Two freehold titles make up the property that includes a 104sq m relocated bungalow perched atop the hillside with commanding views of the Whangārei Harbour. Existing onsite infrastructure includes power, a tank-stored, roof-caught water supply, and a septic tank. The site is also secure and fenced with excellent access roads.
Colliers has been exclusively appointed to market the property for sale by deadline private treaty closing on Thursday 2 September, unless sold prior.
Nigel Ingham, Director at Colliers Whangārei, says sites of this scale with such convenient access to the motorway network rarely come to the market in the Northland region.
“There’s a huge demand for industrial land throughout Whangārei and the potential on offer here is sure to attract a range of buyers who are looking for opportunities to acquire a sizeable land holding that has long-term growth potential,” Ingham says.
“There aren’t many properties immediately south of Whangārei that provide such a dominant presence to State Highway 1 like this, along with an industrial land use consent in place.
“Road access to this site is excellent with 400m of frontage to State Highway 1 and provides a convenient location for traffic heading west connecting to Dargaville or north to Whangārei and beyond.”
Daniel Sloper, Broker at Colliers Whangārei, says materials from quarries are in high demand throughout Northland as the area continues to develop through central and local government investment.
“Quarrying needs to be carried out close to where materials will be used. This keeps transportation costs low and helps to minimise building costs and emissions in local communities. Otherwise, it costs around double for every 30km further away from its source,” Sloper says.
“Aggregates are fundamental to the lives of everyday New Zealanders. Without an ongoing supply of aggregates, the production of concrete and the development of buildings, roads, and infrastructure would come to a standstill.”
The property is zoned Rural Production Environment Zone, which encompasses a large area of the Whangārei district.
The purpose of this zoning is to sustainably manage the natural and physical resources of the rural area to protect, sustain and promote rural production activities, while enabling the rehabilitation of ecological and biodiversity values.
Data from Infometrics shows Northland was the country’s second-fastest growing region in the September 2020 quarter, with economic activity up 3 per cent.
Whangārei is the engine room of Northland’s economy, accounting for half the region’s GDP. It is New Zealand’s northernmost city, with a total population of 87,000 across the district, and is only two hours north of New Zealand’s economic hub, Auckland, which provides easy access to the country’s largest domestic market as well as a gateway to all international markets.
Access to international markets is also provided at Northport, the deep-water commercial port at Whangārei’s Marsden Point, which is only 25 minutes away. This is the northernmost multi-purpose port in New Zealand and the closest to most of New Zealand’s international markets.
