South Port's new $4.25 million inland port freight hub is taking shape on Mersey St, central Invercargill.
The facility, on a 0.80ha site next to the KiwiRail container transfer yard, comprised a 4000sq m warehouse, a yard and a dedicated wash pad area, South Port commercial manager Nigel Gear said.
The hub, to be known as South Port's Intermodal Freight Centre (IFC), was being built because of an increase of cargo coming into Southland in containers and less available space at South Port's Island Harbour facilities at Bluff, he said.
Containerised cargo would be delivered from Bluff or Port Chalmers to the IFC by Kiwirail.
The containers would then be unpacked and the goods stored in the warehouse until they were collected by trucking companies of the customers' choice.
"The net result from the establishment of the IFC [is] to create more competition, and therefore more efficient and cost-effective handling of imports into the region,'' Mr Gear said.
Some export packing might also also take place at the IFC, he said.
The facility is expected to open on July 1.
