Those driving into Port Edward recently will have noticed a significant difference in the landscape — the area across from Kristoff Trucking, as well as behind the current shop, has been cleared out and in front of both locations are signs promoting the Port Edward Logistics Park.
Murray Kristoff, owner of Kristoff Trucking, says the recent activity is one way the company and partners Kuehne + Nagel are preparing to accommodate industry that is looking to establish itself on the North Coast.
"We are clearing the land getting it ready to develop and we will build to suit for whatever customers need on that site. If they need warehousing we will build warehousing, if it just a lay-down yard we can build that yard ... hopefully by summer we will have some areas ready, but we will wait and see with the LNG industry how it plays out and what the immediate need will be," he said, noting the park should increase the competitiveness of the international freight forwarding firm.
"We're their people on the ground and anything we do will enhance their work on the projects as well. It allows them to be a more competitive bidder on their logistics contracts because of the amenities they can provide — lay-down yards, warehousing, trucking, crane service. Just about anything to do with logistics we can handle it."
While optimistic LNG will become a reality on the North Coast, Kristoff said the company is also preparing for growth regardless following the announced expansion of Fairview Terminal.
"It is amazing to get that kind of increased volumes in a small town like this, so we're ready either way," he said.