Calder Stewart’s $3bn Inland Port Set to Transform South Island Export Infrastructure
A major New Zealand infrastructure development promoted by Impact PR has hit national headlines, with widespread media coverage for a $3 billion privately funded project that will deliver the country’s largest inland port.
Calder Stewart Launches Landmark Otago Project
The Milburn Quadrant, located north of Milton in Otago, is a 200-hectare master-planned industrial precinct that will future-proof export logistics for Southland and Central Otago’s fast-growing primary industries. The site includes a 55-hectare inland port, nearly six times larger than current equivalents, directly connected to both State Highway 1 and the South Island’s main trunk rail line.
Impact PR’s Media Campaign Delivers National Reach
The high-impact PR campaign has delivered coverage across Stuff, NBR, RNZ, BusinessDesk, Otago Daily Times, Newstalk ZB and several other leading outlets, with many placing it as their lead business story.
Impact PR was engaged by national property and construction leader Calder Stewart, the project’s developer, to manage the media rollout and stakeholder visibility. As part of a long-standing client relationship, the agency leveraged its property and infrastructure expertise to position the announcement as a national economic priority.
Why New Infrastructure Is Critical for NZ Exports
“This project will act as a pressure valve for Port Chalmers, which is nearing logistical capacity,” “We’re removing an estimated 10,000 truck movements per year from city roads and shifting bulk exports onto rail, improving safety, reducing emissions, and unlocking long-term freight resilience.”
Calder Stewart Land & Delivery Manager Mark Johnston.
Privately Funded Model Avoids Burden on Ratepayers
The development is designed to service high-volume seasonal exports such as dairy, forestry, and aquaculture, sectors projected to see 30–40% growth in freight volumes over the next decade. Unlike competing sites, Milburn Quadrant is fully zoned for industrial use, requires no public funding, and is ready for construction pending resource consent.
Stage one, which includes a 10,000 sqm steel fabrication facility and headquarters at the Revolution Hills campus, is already complete. Calder Stewart will deliver the remainder of the project using its own vertically integrated model, drawing on in-house design, manufacturing, construction, and plant operations.
Sustainable Development with Solar-First Design
The project also brings a sustainability-first mindset. All new buildings will be solar-powered, part of a self-funded energy initiative led by Calder Stewart Energy Limited, with the potential to generate up to 50MW of electricity, a first for a New Zealand inland port development.
“We’re not just developers, we’re long-term regional investors,” “Milburn is scalable, shovel-ready, and offers the infrastructure this region needs to keep exports competitive and jobs local.”
John D’Arcy, Calder Stewart Lower South Island Property Manager.
The development also features 30-metre native planting buffers, walking trails, and integrated cycleways connecting to the Clutha Gold Trail, combining industrial growth with community-minded design.
Calder Stewart is now looking to engage with local government to secure support for the development.
