Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Signing off a sale agreement in his Bridge Street office as he’s done many times over the years, heading into retirement Dave Murie is a happy man.Photos Ross McCullough OB4005-1 (6)
What is it to be?
Ross McCullough
THREE sections of prime land along Bridge Street, including the Wakelin Motors site, has been sold.
Opotiki Harcourts sales and marketing consultant Wendy Moore said an unconditional agreement was now in place for the sale of the three titles totalling 12,141 square metres.
Owner Dave Murie said settlement would be early next year.
Mrs Moore said she was unable to disclose the name of the buyer or their plans for the site – at least not for a few months.
The land package incorporating the car yard at the corner of Nelson and Bridge streets was listed on June 20 at $599,000 plus GST, an all-inclusive maximum price, but the actual sale price has not been disclosed.
Mr Murie said the intended buyer was more interested in the land than the business.
As part of negotiations, he said he needed to know what was planned for the site because it was important that it was something good for the town.
Although the new owner’s plans were commercially sensitive, he was given an indication of the plan and its benefits for Opotiki.
He hinted that the two empty sections next door to the car yard might yet be left untouched with just the yard to be developed.
“It’s all very exciting,” he said.
An Opotiki District Council spokeswoman last week said no building or resource consent applications had come in yet from the new owner.
Although Mr Murie has sold the land with a view to retiring, he has retained ownership of the business leaving the door open to set up Wakelin Motors somewhere else in the future.
“Who knows – I love the motor car sales industry but at this stage, I feel I need a break,” he said. “It’s time to enjoy life and spend a bit more time fishing.”
He has worked in the motor car sales industry for 37 years starting out in 1980 working under Paddy Davidson who owned Wakelin Motors on King Street.
He took over the business in 2002 and has operated as Wakelin Motors Cars at the current site for 15 years.
Car bargains to be had
HAVING sold his land block at 58 Bridge Street, Wakelin Motors Cars proprietor Dave Murie is heading into retirement doing what he always has done – offering Opotiki people in need of a used vehicle a decent bang for their buck.
Today marks the start of a retirement sale to clear all remaining vehicles on the car yard.
The sale will continue until all stock is gone with leftovers to be sold at auction.
Mr Murie said some vehicles would be below cost price with up to $5000 discounted off some vehicles.
He has 16 vehicles to sell including a 2004 Toyota Caldina, 2005 Toyota Mark X, a 2001 Holden Commodore, 2008 Nissan Dualis and a 2005 Nissan Wingroad.