22 July 2024

Ocean Beach centre impresses economic development minister

The development of Ocean Beach at Bluff as an industrial and visitor centre has drawn praise from the economic development minister.

Melissa Lee recently toured the former freezing works accompanied by Invercargill deputy mayor Tom Campbell.

It is hoped the site will become a visitor hotspot as it is transformed into a tourism hub and aquaculture park.

Lee said she was impressed by the level of aquaculture innovation taking place there.

“The centre not only has a focus on sustainability but also an important role to play in rebuilding our economy, particularly in the Southland region.”

Aquaculture development at Ocean Beach included The New Zealand Abalone Company’s boutique pāua production facility and the country’s first on-land whitebait farming programme developed by Manāki Premium Marine Technology.

Campbell was equally impressed. “The scalability of aquaculture in Southland is something we are incredibly excited about,” he said.

“Witnessing such innovation and potential here in our region is inspiring.

“Ocean Beach has the potential to draw global attention and position Southland as a leader in sustainable aquaculture.”

Ocean Beach also had the Bluff Gin Distillery, which launched in March this year, and planned to establish a high-end restaurant.

Public tours of the centre had also started recently.

Bobbi Brown, a project lead for the regional planning initiative Beyond 2025, said Ocean Beach’s innovation and diversity aligned with the initiative’s vision for the region.

“Ocean Beach exemplifies the kind of forward-thinking and sustainable development that Beyond 2025 envisioned.“

In January 2022 Ocean Beach NZ managing director Blair Wolfgram said the development would also include a retail hub and boutique accommodation.

Wolfgram was absent in South Africa and could not be contacted.

Aquaculture manager Morgan Manivannan said Lee’s tour also included two other seaweed related businesses, Kelp Blue and CH4.

“Future expansion in other species of aquaculture is planned,” he said.

There was no update regarding other possible ventures.

Manivanan said between 30 to 40 Ocean Beach staff and tenants worked at the site.

The former Ocean Beach freezing works closed in 1991.

 

Source: The Southland Times – 22 July 2024

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