Gary Johanson says unique industrial property would best serve a buyer in the freight and logistics sector.
The former home of Penrice Soda would be ideal for a new Adelaide freight hub, the local mayor says.
City of Port Adelaide Enfield mayor Gary Johanson was describing his wish for the now-vacant site, which has recently been taken to market by the liquidators of Penrice Soda.
The site is 18 hectares with an important river frontage that gives it close access to Adelaide’s port facilities.
It also features a rail siding that could be easily connected to the wider freight network at the port.
“It would be ideal for the freight industry, which would need that wharf structure because the closer you get to the Outer Harbor, the cheaper your freight costs are,” Johanson told local media last week.
“I think it can produce far more jobs and opportunities for the community and the state than what poor old Penrice was doing the last few years.”
Johanson says he has spoken with the State Government and both will offer all reasonable assistance to anyone looking to develop on the site.
“It’s a once-in-100-year opportunity,” he tells ATN.
“This land hasn’t been available for sale for generations, and it’s a distress sale, so there’s a chance to build there at an absolutely bargain price.”
Liquidator McGrath Nichol listed the property for sale last week, and says it has had several expressions of interest already.
“The site is being sold on an ‘as is, where is’ basis,” McGrath Nichol partner Sam Davies says, adding that prospective buyers had a range of potential uses in mind.
The former chemical manufacturing site (Penrice produced sodium bicarbonate there) will be sold after expressions of interest close on March 12.