Eastland Port is optimising space by shifting its own office offsite and into a port-owned building down the road.
About 20 port staff will move into the building owned by Eastland Investment Properties Limited at 2 Crawford Road.
Eastland Port general manager Andrew Gaddum says the move is about making space on port.
“Because of the drive for efficiency at the port we have removed a number of old buildings to free up more space for critical port infrastructure.”
“Our current office, at 1 Kaiti Beach Rd, was only ever meant to be temporary. It’s been added on to a few times over the years but now it’s next in line to go.”
The 20 staff about to move off port work across a range of Eastland Port divisions including marine operations and infrastructure, and Eastland Investment Properties.
Mr Gaddum says the existing office will be relocated sometime next year and the vacant space will be used for efficient and safer truck access, a wash down area, and log storage.
The 2 Crawford Rd building is split level and has been empty since February 2019.
Mr Gaddum says port staff are excited about the move to the inner harbour and the refurbished office will add to the vibrancy of the area.
The building dates back to the 1920’s and was the original head office for the freezing works. Part of the building houses a huge internal safe where the freezing works payroll used to be kept.
“It’s a privilege to be able to repurpose an important part of our city’s industrial heritage,” says Mr Gaddum.
Office space will be created on both floors. Mr Gaddum says the bottom floor needs very little refurbishment as its industrial look, with exposed beams and conduits, is to be retained. An internal staircase will be reinstated joining the two floors.
Local contractors have already begun work.