Open/Close Toolbox
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand License
Format: Organisation
Linked To
Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 New Zealand LicenseThis licence lets you distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon this work, even commercially, as long as you credit us for the original creation. This is the most accommodating of the licences offered, in terms of what you can do with our works licensed under Attribution.
Wallaceville Animal Research Centre / AgResearch
History
HistoryThe Prime Minister, Jim Bolger, opened the country's largest disease-containment laboratory there on March 26, 1997. The May 21, 2003 'Leader' printed three small paragraphs 'AgResearch may close'; staff had been told of a review the previous day. There was more in the next issue; the National Centre for Disease Investigation would also be affected. Paul Swain argued that the government wanted to spend more on science, rather than building upgrades. The August 6 'leader' said the closure would be extended; 4 years, not 18 months, 'due to the effort put into the consultation process by everyone, including Wallaceville staff and the city council'.
A public meeting on October 5, 2003 was advertised on a full page in the 'Leader', to protest against AgResearch's proposal to close the place.
By November 19, closure had been deferred to December 2008; the reproduction-research team would stay till then, but other groups would move to Palmerston North in January 2006.
Wallaceville celebrated its centenary on March 27, 2005; the March 30 'Leader' covered the events.
AgResearch offered its AgVax unit in Shakespeare Avenue for sale in April 2005; they did not own the property.
Plans for a film-studio complex were announced in January 2013 but did not eventuate.
The August 12, 2015 'Leader' anounced a new $87 million level-3 animal disease laboratory, which could handle such things as bird flu or foot-and-mouth disease, but not Ebola or rabies, and would be operational in 2019. The centre was dealing with about 5000 suspicious samples a year. The site would also house the national human infectious diseases centre; the combined staff was around 100. The October 28 'Leader' showed the first sod being turned.
The October 7, 2015 'Leader' announced that development of 63 hectares of land bounded by Alexander Road, Ward Street, Trentham Racecourse and Defence Department land had been approved by the council; much of the land would no longer be zoned for special activities.
Wallaceville Developments Ltd would build around 700 two, three and four-bedroom houses. Some land south of Alexander Road would become residential, with the rest rural-lifestyle.
The Ward Street frontage would be retained as part of a gateway precinct of commercial and business uses.
'Leader', April 13, 2016; the Environment Court struck out an appeal against the proposal by Paul Persico; he had objected on contamination possibilities, 'based solely on his inexpert belief in the evidence provided to the council'.
The same issue printed a full-page advertisement on the National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease'; a 12-ton tower crane with a 43-metre boom was about to be erected, and would be working for about 12 months. The new laboratory would have an area of 3400 square metres, use 400 tons of steel and 680 cubic metres of concrete. The air-handling system would use 4347 metres of ducting with 3485 bends.
The June 22 issue announced that 48 houses had been sold off the plans at Wallaceville (plus 27 at the former CIT); they had not ben listed on the open market. Resource consent had been given, with legal formation and titles to come. A photo by Paul Persico showed workers in protective clothing on the site of an old rubbish tip; at one stage asbestos had been found in soil from a former housing area.
The September 6, 2017 'Leader' and an earlier 'Dominion Post' announced a 50 000 square metrebusiness park on part of the land
A public meeting on October 5, 2003 was advertised on a full page in the 'Leader', to protest against AgResearch's proposal to close the place.
By November 19, closure had been deferred to December 2008; the reproduction-research team would stay till then, but other groups would move to Palmerston North in January 2006.
Wallaceville celebrated its centenary on March 27, 2005; the March 30 'Leader' covered the events.
AgResearch offered its AgVax unit in Shakespeare Avenue for sale in April 2005; they did not own the property.
Plans for a film-studio complex were announced in January 2013 but did not eventuate.
The August 12, 2015 'Leader' anounced a new $87 million level-3 animal disease laboratory, which could handle such things as bird flu or foot-and-mouth disease, but not Ebola or rabies, and would be operational in 2019. The centre was dealing with about 5000 suspicious samples a year. The site would also house the national human infectious diseases centre; the combined staff was around 100. The October 28 'Leader' showed the first sod being turned.
The October 7, 2015 'Leader' announced that development of 63 hectares of land bounded by Alexander Road, Ward Street, Trentham Racecourse and Defence Department land had been approved by the council; much of the land would no longer be zoned for special activities.
Wallaceville Developments Ltd would build around 700 two, three and four-bedroom houses. Some land south of Alexander Road would become residential, with the rest rural-lifestyle.
The Ward Street frontage would be retained as part of a gateway precinct of commercial and business uses.
'Leader', April 13, 2016; the Environment Court struck out an appeal against the proposal by Paul Persico; he had objected on contamination possibilities, 'based solely on his inexpert belief in the evidence provided to the council'.
The same issue printed a full-page advertisement on the National Centre for Biosecurity and Infectious Disease'; a 12-ton tower crane with a 43-metre boom was about to be erected, and would be working for about 12 months. The new laboratory would have an area of 3400 square metres, use 400 tons of steel and 680 cubic metres of concrete. The air-handling system would use 4347 metres of ducting with 3485 bends.
The June 22 issue announced that 48 houses had been sold off the plans at Wallaceville (plus 27 at the former CIT); they had not ben listed on the open market. Resource consent had been given, with legal formation and titles to come. A photo by Paul Persico showed workers in protective clothing on the site of an old rubbish tip; at one stage asbestos had been found in soil from a former housing area.
The September 6, 2017 'Leader' and an earlier 'Dominion Post' announced a 50 000 square metrebusiness park on part of the land
Photos
Details
Also known as
Also known as
Also known as
Alternative nameAgResearch LimitedFor the years2005-2008
For the years2005-2008More information
loading google map....
loading street view...
Wallaceville Animal Research Centre / AgResearch. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 12/12/2023, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/16016