HARDWARE giant Bunnings will build a $10 million, 5000sq m warehouse in Wangaratta.
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Council officers have hailed the decision as a win for jobs in the region and vote of confidence in the city.
Wangaratta Council yesterday announced it had received a planning application for a high-profile 1.9ha site on the corner of Tone Road and Newman Street in the city.
The site has potential for additional bulky goods retailing to cluster around Bunnings.
Bunnings chief operating officer Peter Davis said the plan had been a long time coming.
“We’ve had a long-term commitment to having a strong presence in Wangaratta and we are very pleased that we have finally found a suitable site,” he said.
“In a demonstration of our commitment to regional centres, this development represents an investment of more than $10 million.
“All Bunnings stores work hard to contribute to their local communities and this new store will make substantial efforts to support the ongoing growth of Wangaratta as a leading regional retail centre.
“Bunnings is renowned for its expert advice and the new store will see the creation of about 50 to 60 team member jobs, largely recruited from the local community area.”
The warehouse will be about half the size of recent Bunnings stores opened in Albury and Wodonga.
Those stores employ about 100 people.
Council’s economic development manager Graham Nickless said it was outstanding news for Wangaratta.
“This is further testament to the confidence of investors in Wangaratta as a place to do business,” he said.
“They will certainly enhance Wangaratta’s retail offer and most importantly create further employment.”
The Wangaratta Retail Audit and Development Plan, adopted by council in October, highlighted the need for a consolidated bulky goods precinct in the city with the capacity to attract national brands.