Help in sight for Marlboroughs wine worker housing crises.

Consents have finally been issued by the Marlborough District Council for the development of the Riverland Roadhouse truck stop and rural workers accommodation complex to be built on the site adjacent to the Marlborough sale yards on state highway 1.

Development company Riverlands Roadhouse Ltd headed by David ( Bill ) Wagner is to shortly begin construction of the multi purpose $6m project which when completed will offer parking, service, accommodation and dining for the trucking industry and campervan travelers,  as well as providing a 24 hour  7 day a week managed worker accommodation  complex for the Marlborough wine industry.

David Wagner says that the location and design of the Roadhouse is ideal  for the trucking industry and especially so for the wine industry being situated just on the outskirts of Blenheim and between the Wairau plains and the Arawtery valley.

The truck stop part of the project is based on the American model and will be the biggest and most modern of its type in the country. When completed the facility will provide a comfortable and safe stopover option to long haul drivers and will offer secured parking, 24 hour food and lodging as well as a fuel depot, weigh bridge and state of the art truck wash.

With parking for 20 B train units and 15 powered parks for  refrigerated trucks along with 20 driver motel rooms and genuine Truck Stop Diner, it is hoped the trucking industry will see this as a opportunity to address the issue of driver fatigue and greatly enhance drivers working environment.

The campervan park will offer secure powered parks and ablution facilities along with free effluent disposal for both private motor home owners and hire vehicles.
It is expected the regulations will shortly come into force to control the disposal of effluent from campervans and Bruce Strange of the NZ Motor Caravan Assn says that such facilities as these are urgently needed throughout the country and the location and design of the Roadhouse is ideal for both the association members and the tourist industry.

The workers accommodation component of the project which will initially house fifty residents is aimed at going some way towards relieving the housing shortage for the districts seasonal labour pool and for the first time in Marlborough there will be an option of housing seasonal or transient rural workers in purpose built units which will more than meet the requirements of both the industry and the regulatory authorities such as the Depts of Labour and Imigration as well as council.

The concept has attracted wide support from the wine industry groups as well as the Marlborough Development Trust. Gerald Hope of Wine Marlborough says he is delighted with the project and the establishment worker housing of this type will be a great help to the industry which has to date struggled with labour issues especially in the accommodation area.  Whilst we would dearly love the facility to be available for this season ( starting May ) we are mindful of the fact that this is a large project which will take some time to construct however are thrilled that we can expect it all completed for the preparation of the 2009 crop and given it receives industry support could be expanded in the future.

David Wagner says that “we have gone to great lengths to design a development where the contractors who provide the work force for the wine industry will be offered affordable modern housing for their staff. Stage one of the development will have four individual units each housing 12 people in twin shared rooms with 4 toilets and showers and a common kitchen. There will also be a laundry on the site and a recreational football field is planed.

The mix of truckers, campervaners  and wine people on the site should make for an exciting and interesting community and with a range of social and recreational facilities available we would hope that the Roadhouse will become a valuable asset to the region”. 

Bill Noell of Connell Wagner Ltd who are designing the civil works for the site is confident that Crafer Crouch will have their earth moving gear on site early May and the Roadhouse should be up and running well before Christmas.

All News:

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	The Riverlands Roadhouse Truck Stop is near to becoming a going concern. Crafar Crouch as the main contractors have now got into high gear and construction of the main Truck Park is well underway. More info >>
	NZ’s Largest Truck-stop in the Making Truck-stop developer David (Bill) Wagner would be hard-pressed to find a more strategic location for his Riverlands Roadhouse project. More info >>
	Help in sight for Marlboroughs wine worker housing crises. Consents have finally been issued by the Marlborough District Council for the development of the Riverland Roadhouse truck stop and rural workers accommodation complex to be built on the site adjacent to the Marlborough sale yards on state highway 1. More info >>
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