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Building projects to cost $5500M

PA Wellington Big construction projects costing more than $5500 million are planned in New Zealand during the next nine years, according to the Major Projects Advisory Group. The projects are expected to almost double the national building work-force of 4600 by early 1953. The projects will centre on Marsden Point in Northland, the off-shore Maui gas and condensate field, and electricity from power projects in the lower South Island.

Heading the Northland projects are the $420 million expansions timed to start early next year at the Marsden Point refinery. Another $270 million is designated for pulp and paper mills with the first to be sited at Marsden Point, and expected to be built from 1982 to 1985.

Port developments at Marsden Point, a rail link between the port and pulp mills, and a refined products pipeline to Auckland, in ratal $ll2 million, are also being planned. Taranaki developments in-

clude liquefied petroleum gas processing and distribution, and ammonia urea, methanol and synthetic petrol plants. Together they are expected to cost at least $730 million. The advisory group also anticipates another $6OO million being spent on ethane extraction from the Maui field after the mid-1980s.

In Otago, the Aramoana aluminium smelter, the third Tiwai Point smelter potline, a cement plant near Oamaru, a South Otago wood pulp mill, and a silicon carbide plant will cost about $lO4O million.

Electricity developments in the Upper Waitaki and Upper Clutha catchments are priced at another $BOO million.

Other big projects during the decade include North Islyand electric power projects worth $9OO million, New Zealand Steel expansions at Glenbrook costing $6OO million, the $2OO million fourth Kawerau newsprint machine and a $2OO million newsprint plant planned about 1987 at nearby Whirinaki. The CSR-Baigent pulp mill at Eves Valley in Nelson, plus the North Island rail

electrification, will cost another $l6O million. The advisory group says a “steep but steady” increase in building workers is needed through next year and 1982. “The refinery', chemical methanol, first stages of the steel and second aluminium smelter projects, Tasman fourth paper machine and Nelson pulp mill will have high demands by the end of 1982.

"Gradually reducing demand follows to a plateau around 6000 people beyond 1985," says the group.

Peak demand for labour is expected at 3800 people in Otago and Southland by late 1983. In Taranki there will be a peak of 1200 people in mid 1982 and a second peak of 1300 people during 1987 as the synthetic petrol plant is built. In Northland the workforce is expected to reach 1100 in late 1982 and then drop until work starts on thermal power development and a second pulp mill about 1987.

The advisory group was set up by the Government earlier this year to monitor the availability of resources for big construction projects.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19801229.2.67

Bibliographic details

Press, 29 December 1980, Page 7

Word Count
472

Building projects to cost $5500M Press, 29 December 1980, Page 7

Building projects to cost $5500M Press, 29 December 1980, Page 7