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Bevan Morrison, right, says the family is intending to build a large indoor children’s playground at its Morrison Heritage Orchard.
Development of industrial land owned by the Morrison family in south west Warkworth continues to be stymied while awaiting more definitive plans from Auckland Transport, though planning continues despite the handicap.
Between 30,000 and 40,000 square metres of the Morrison land is locked in limbo until Auckland Transport provides a definitive decision on where it will put the Western collector road.
Meanwhile, the Morrison family is in the process of selling a 500 square metre site in front of the new PlaceMakers, which would suit a large building development or a business requiring a large yard.
Family spokesperson Bevan Morrison says he gets a call every week from businesses interested in purchasing the land, on top of interest from real estate agencies and parties he is already in conversation with.
He believes it is the only live-zoned industrial land available for sale in Warkworth.
“The lack of industrial land in Warkworth is becoming a serious problem,” he says.
In addition to the land sale, the Morrison family is retaining two sections it will build on itself.
One site will house two large business premises while the other will have 100 to 200 square metre units for small to medium businesses.
The family has already found tenants for the two large buildings and construction will begin this summer.
In other news, the family has obtained a plan change from Auckland Council to allow the existing Morrison Heritage Orchard on the land to remain.
The orchard is home to 100-year-old heritage fruit trees that have been cultivated by the family for generations.
Bevan says the family plans to seek a resource consent to build a “fruit shed” to sell the produce, which will also feature a café and market space.
Bevan envisions weekly markets for local producers, similar to the Matakana Farmers Market, but held on a Sunday.
The family has purchased a large children’s indoor playground from a former play centre in West Auckland, which it intends to shift to the site.
“As a father of children under age four, I know there isn’t much in the way of wet weather play area in Warkworth.”
Bevan anticipates the project will be completed in 2023.
