Centralines New Depot Built with Community at its Core

by Marketing and Communications

A milestone for the district, Central Hawke’s Bay’s dedicated electricity lines business Centralines has opened the doors of its highly anticipated new Coughlan Road depot in Waipukurau.

In planning for over five years, and in response to sustained growth within the business and wider district, the purpose-built depot will house close to 50 employees, with room to expand further.

Several multi-purpose rooms have been included in the architecture of the depot, which will be available for community events in the future.

Employment at Centralines has increased by 50% in the past five years, with the largely local team growing in numbers and the capability required to meet new and sustained demand.

Unprecedented growth in Central Hawke’s Bay in recent years has seen the population reaching an all-time high of over 15,000 residents, with the district growing by an average of 2.1% per year since 2013.

General Manager of Centralines, Jason Larkin, says that Centralines plays an important role in supporting the social and economic development of the Central Hawke’s Bay community.

“We know that our people need to be equipped with the skills to face the challenges and opportunities that a new energy future will bring in a growing Central Hawke’s Bay.”

“It is our priority to strengthen and future-proof the network, and to employ and develop a great team of people who are supported with career development and training.”

“The fantastic new Centralines depot was designed by Citrus Studio Architects incorporating planning input and ideas from our team. It will enable our business to continue to play a central role in the development of our community as it grows, while supporting our people.”

“We know Central Hawke’s Bay is a great place to live, and Centralines is a great place to work. Our new Depot is an investment in our people and a standout facility in the sector that will help with attracting and retaining Centralines’ next generation.”

Central to the design of the foyer within the depot are carvings and installation linked to Ngā Ara Tipuna that represent the Centralines story - past, present and future.

Developed by local carver Conrad Nepe Apatu working with Locales Ltd, these consist of four 3.5m tall toko and one 4.9m long pare, which have been built upon four key themes identified by Centralines staff: whānau, teamwork, skill, and relationship with Central Hawke’s Bay Community.

Each panel is named to reflect the part of the Centralines story it represents, and these names have been given to the five multipurpose rooms, weaving the story into the fabric of the building.

Designed by Architect Brent Scott of Citrus Studio and built by Gemco, the building has been constructed to seismic rating suitable for Emergency Services and includes a solar array producing renewable energy, reducing Centralines’ carbon footprint with surplus energy flowing back into the network.

Unison, the lines company for Hastings, Napier, Taupō and Rotorua, which provides management services to Centralines, oversaw the design and fit out of the building data network which has been designed with security and resilience in mind to ensure Centralines can operate its electricity network under all circumstances.

“Our community, customers and people are at the core of everything we do,” says Ian Walker, Chair of the Centralines Board.

“We look forward to many years in the new Centralines depot, spent growing and developing our diverse workforce, in order to support our wonderful Central Hawke’s Bay community.”