A proposed new marine refit facility for Wynyard Quarter has been given the green light following the signing of an agreement between the city’s redevelopment agency (Panuku Development Auckland) and marine services company Orams.
The facility – on a location known as Site 18 on the corner of Beaumont and Jellicoe Streets – will feature a marine haul-out and refit centre, commercial buildings and a residential tower on the northern end. It will target vessels up to 620 tonnes, which account for 85 percent of the world marine refit market.

The development also aims to provide increased maintenance facilities for Auckland’s ferries, fishing vessels and commercial vessels. The majority of existing marine business on the site will be accommodated within the new development.

Panuku chief executive Roger MacDonald says the development “has the potential to deliver significant economic benefits, not only for Auckland but for the country as a whole. Only last week Queensland launched a five-year superyacht strategy with the intention to become a key superyacht hub in the AsiaPacific region by 2023.”

Orams proposes to complete the marine elements of the site in advance of the residential development to enable the facility to be up and running for the next America’s Cup in 2021.

Orams marine services managing director Craig Park says the marine sector is an important economic contributor to New Zealand and Auckland, and the refit facility will create more than 500 jobs and generate significant income for the marine and tourism industries.

“The 620-tonne travel hoist will allow us to triple our capacity for vessels out of the water. This project will put Auckland and New Zealand at the forefront of the world refit and maintenance industry.”

The NZ Marine industry has welcomed the news, forecasting greater apprenticeship numbers, an increase in jobs and the ability to take full economic advantage of having the America’s Cup in local waters. Limited facilities in New Zealand for adequately hauling out vessels of this size means local companies are regularly turning away work due to lack of space.

“This move is a step towards a long-term strategy the marine industry has held dating back to 2000,” says NZ Marine executive director Peter Busfield.

As part of the development the existing seawall will be replaced and contamination remediation works undertaken.