Technology Park a joint venture

Press, 9 March 1988, Page 32

Technology Park a joint venture

The Canterbury Technology Park, which opens officially today,, will be run by a consortium of four partners — the Waimairi District Council, Trust Bank Canterbury, the Development Finance Corporation Ventures and Hawdon Holdings, a development company owned by Unisys LINC Development Centre. They were brought together by Mr Denis Breese, the director of public affairs and marketing for LINC Developments, and Mr Doug Kerr, chief executive of the Canterbury Development Corporation, after the idea of a technology park was brought forward by Mr John Harwood.

The park is situated on a 15 hectare block of land beside the Russley Golf Course, which was previously zoned rural. Only 25 per cent of the land will be built upon, making it not only the first technology park in this country but the lowest density park in the world to date. All the land is

owned by the consortium, allowing' them to Oversee its development as a coordinated whole. Resident companies will pay for their own construction costs, after submitting their building design to the Park Board for approval. Over three years have passed since the concept of a j technology park for Canterbury was brought forward, but today it becomes a reality. Sir William Pickering Drive, the road which meanders through the park' will be officially opened this afternoon along with stage three of the Unisys LINC Development Centre built by J. J. Construction Company. Construction has begun on a building for Databank, and will start soon on the Canterbury Development Corporation's Canterbury Development Centre.

Trust Bank Canterbury has the site next to Databank, Sand TV3 plan to build their studios in the park in the near future.