AIR conditioning manufacturer Seeley International has been wooed from Albury to Wodonga where it will build a $20 million factory at a site to be confirmed shortly.
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The company is presently based near Albury Airport, but will make the move with a plan to double its existing workforce with the creation of 205 new manufacturing jobs and a further 100 positions in the supply chain and construction of the factory which will include a research and development centre.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed his government had provided undisclosed financial incentives to Seeley International to relocate to Wodonga with regional payroll tax cuts another factor.
“We don’t detail the nature of those,” he said.
“This is a very, very competitive market and I can assure you and your readers and all Victorians we have delivered a really strong value for taxpayers’ money in the support we’ve provided to Seeley.
“The most powerful example of our determination to keep regional Victoria strong is of course the 25 per cent cut in regional payroll tax.
“It is a significant signal and significant cost-saving for businesses.”
Seeley group managing director Jon Seeley confirmed the government incentives had played a role in the company making the move.
“We’ve steadily been out-growing our facility in the region,” he said.
“We have been looking for two years for alternative locations and the support of the Victorian government and (Wodonga Council) has been critical in us reaching this conclusion.”
Mr Seeley said the company had a short-list of sites with Enterprise Park in West Wodonga and the Logic industrial hub obvious contenders.
Three years ago former NSW premier Mike Baird toured Seeley’s existing site in North Street.
Member for Albury Greg Aplin congratulated Seeley on its expansion in Wodonga.
“I understand that Seeley International will move to a greenfield site in West Wodonga, with support from a federal fund established to compensate Victoria for the loss of jobs in that state from the closing of the car manufacturing industry,” he said.
Seeley exports to more than 120 countries with a network of sales offices in the United Kingdom, France and the United States.
Victoria is the single largest market making up about 55 per cent of Australian sales.
Industry minister Wade Noonan said: “This investment could have gone to a number of places.
“But I am very proud that we are willing to invest in industry and manufacturing businesses bringing new investment into Victoria.”
Wodonga Council is assisting Seeley find a site for its factory.