Businesses move into old woollen mill

Press, 22 January 1982, Page 7

Businesses move into old woollen mill

Three small owner-man-aged businesses have moved into the old Kaiapoi Woollen Mill building at Kaiapoi. and several others are negotiating the leasing of space. The mill was bought by an Ashburton farmer, Mr J. W. E. Shivas. early last month. Mr Shivas bought the mill as an investment on behalf of a family trust formed by himself. his wife, and his children.

When he bought the mill he said it would be leased to Kaiapoi industries and so help relieve the unemployment in the town.

The Wool Board leases more than half of the 18.000 sq m building for storing wool.

The three small industries, a plastics distributor, a signwriter. and a car panelbeater. had moved into the mill in the last month or so. said the manager. Mr I. R. Monk.

“We are hoping to get several more small indus-

tries in also. We have had inquiries from other firms, some employing up to 10

girls, about moving in. We are a bit restricted with rezoning. There might have to be a change of use if some larger factories wanted to lease space." he said. Inquiries had been received from firms in Christchurch and Rangiora.

As well as the Wool Board. 14 other companies and organisations leased areas for storage of items including wool and timber products. Some people were storing household furniture in the mill also. Mr Monk said.

Office, factory, and storage areas were available for lease. "We are hoping to get the whole area filled up and are quite pleased with the way it is going at the moment." he said.

Water-blasting the front of the mill would begin in the next two or three weeks to prepare the building for painting. Work would also begin soon on the roof.