"The new site is larger, has room for us to grow and is more centralised to our operations"
20 April 2011
The company's decision to relocate to an 8,000m2 greenfield site in Izone represents a $2.3 million investment in land, design and build of the new operational hub.
SICON chief executive Brett Beagley says the move was prompted by several factors including the projected growth in the Rolleston area. "The new site is larger, has room for us to grow and is more centralised to our operations. We'll also be closer to our owner, Selwyn District Council, and to the homes of many of our employees which in turn will help reduce commuter traffic issues."
Mr Beagley says they'll employ local contractors where they can during the design build phase. "We've already engaged the services of local designers and engineers."
"The Christchurch earthquake has impacted on us as far as resources available, however we are hoping to have relocated by Christmas – dependent on how much the local building industry is absorbed by the rebuilding of Christchurch.
SICON employs over 200 people and Mr Beagley says the SICON team is delighted to be staying in Selwyn, ensuring local jobs remain in the district. He says they have yet to decide the extent of SICON's continued presence in Darfield, however the operational bases in Rangiora, Timaru, Oamaru and Nelson will be unaffected. "We do a great deal of work throughout the Waimakariri, South Canterbury, North Otago and Tasman districts, and we will be keeping our operations in those areas as they are."
In recent times SICON has expanded into the rural sector by providing irrigation and stock water solutions to farmers. Mr Beagley says this is a growing area of business for SICON and the move to Izone will ensure the rural division is in the heart of Canterbury alongside other leading New Zealand agricultural companies such as CRT, PGG Wrightson, Westland Milk Products, Agriseeds and Steven Seeds.
The move to Izone has opened up job opportunities, please view www.sicon.co.nz for more details.
For further information:
Brett Beagley
Chief executive SICON Ltd Contracting