Former Alliance Smithfield meatworks site goes on market in Timaru
Tuesday, 25 February 2025
The site of one of Timaru’s longest-running businesses is for sale, being marketed as 32 hectares with a “multitude of options for developers and occupiers alike’’.
The land and buildings at 15 Bridge Rd were home to Alliance Group’s Smithfield plant for 139 years, but that came to end on December 20 following the closure of the meatworks operation with more than 600 jobs lost.
At the time, the company said it was expected to be in a position to sell the land with buildings intact in 2025. It had already had strong interest from potential buyers, it said.
Listed by Colliers, the industrial and rural land was in three titles, dissected by the main south rail line.
Colliers director of industrial Sam Staite said interest in the site had been fielded from across the country, including from some large-scale producers.
“Alliance is committed to disposal, and as such, we are encouraging all offers to be presented,’’ he said.
Staite said as Primeport Timaru, owned by Port of Tauranga and the Timaru District Council, was a few kilometres to the south of the Smithfield site, it could appeal to those in the export and distribution markets.
The main title on the site was 24.21ha and was zoned Industrial H providing for a wide range of industrial uses.
He said some of the buildings on the site were of varying age and condition, and could appeal to buyers interested in an operational cold-storage facility, “while the significant infrastructure – especially the very high-power supply, rail-siding, current trade-waste discharge ability and water take – are a major drawcard for large producers and processors’’.
The land was also home to the Smithfield Coastal Observation Bunker which was built in 1942, and had a Heritage New Zealand Category 2 listing.
The third title was Rural 3-zoned, sat along State Highway 1, and was about 7.90ha, he said.
Staite said Timaru was a town “growing steadily’’, in part because of its significant port operations, strong work opportunities, vibrant agri-community, affordable housing, and varied lifestyle options.
The neighbouring land was owned by the council, while Freshpork NZ Ltd owned the land its plant sat on.
The Timaru District Council owned two pieces of land on either side of the road at 30 Pacific St, which measured 5.35ha and 1.375ha. Freshpork New Zealand Limited owned the neighbouring 3.5ha site at 67 Pacific St.
Alliance declined to comment about putting the land on the market when contacted.
In September 2022, the company was fined $57,000 for causing “serious harm to an environment of high value and vulnerable sensitivity” near Caroline Bay.
It was also facing four charges that alleged contaminants were discharged into a nearby creek and the Pacific Ocean north of Caroline Bay.
Environment Canterbury laid the charges against the company’s Smithfield plant following incidents related to ruptures in the same pipeline reported on December 7, 2021, and March 16, 2022.
Workers at the meatworks operation were told of their fate at an all-staff meeting in October, with the community rallying to support those impacted.
Job fairs were held in Timaru in conjunction with the South Canterbury Chamber of Commerce, Venture Timaru, the Ministry of Social Development and other social agencies, and another by recruitment agency Canstaff.
It was anticipated with the closure of Smithfield, up to $50 million a year in wages alone would be lost to Timaru’s economy.
The council also said in November that the closure would cause a $1.76m drop in water revenue as the plant used about 10% of Timaru’s total water supply.
The site was for sale by deadline private treaty, closing at 4pm on March 26, unless sold prior.