STEEL COMPANY ADDS 50 JOBS IN CITY EXPANSION
Company’s expansion into CBD will create 50 jobs
A TOWNSVILLE steel company is expanding its business into the CBD with the move to create 50 new full- time positions while strengthening the region’s manufacturing capacity.
Wulguru Group has signed a five- year lease with Honeycombes Property Group to move on to its newly acquired former South Yards rail site, opposite the stadium grounds.
The steel fabricators are Honeycombes’ first major tenant after they purchased the land last month.
Wulguru Group, which already employs more than 150 people, will occupy 164,617sq m of land which currently houses heavy- load gantry cranes, painting booths and steel machining equipment.
Wulguru Group director Bob McKay said the company was tendering and negotiating contracts for local and national projects.
It has also lodged an expressions of interest for the major steel contract for the CBD stadium.
“Having our new South Yards operation has been in- strumental in us securing these opportunities,” he said. “The size and location of the South Yards site further improves the capacity of the Wulguru Group and will assist in attracting further work.”
Mr McKay said he was proud he could work with Honeycombes to ensure that Townsville could increase its attraction to state and national business opportunities.
“We know that our clients could source out of town based contractors and it is great that in working with Honeycombes we are able to secure the work for Townsville, thus helping to develop skills and generate more jobs for our city,” he said.
Honeycombes managing director Peter Honeycombe said the location of South Yards and the opportunity for industrial businesses was key to stimulating the economy.
“There are currently a number of further leasing opportunities within South Yards for tenants that are seeking easy access to construction works associated with the new stadium,” he said.
“The Port of Townsville and connecting highways are also in proximity and South Yards allows for B- double truck access,” he said.
Mr Honeycombe said leasing the yards meant that his company could keep the site well maintained, active and help facilitate job creation.
The property group expects to start its master plan for the site soon which will aim to complement the CBD’s overall rejuvenation planned by Townsville City Council.
“On the back of our new stadium, the committed water solution and now the massive announcement of Adani, it is important that all Townsville businesses do their part to improve our city’s economy and employment opportunities,” Mr Honeycombe said.
The Wulguru Group will begin its lease before the end of the month.
MANY years of hard yakka and providing good service is paying off for Townsville business owner Bob Harding but the qualified fire safety officer is quick to set the record straight.
“People might think I’m rich, I’m not. I owe a lot of money,” the owner of Flaming North Fire Protection said after buying a new site for his business at Garbutt.
He bought the Townsville business in 2003 and initially operated it by himself.
Mr Harding now employs 10 people and provides fire safety equipment and maintenance services throughout North Queensland from an office and workshop in Townsville and an office in Cairns.
“I started small, working on my own and building up,” Mr Harding said.
Of the business’s growth, he said: “It’s called hard work, being honest with customers and being priced fairly.”
Mr Harding has now bought a second and larger site at Townsville and will lease his original property at Guerney St as well as some of the space at the new site in Carmel St.
He bought the 1006sq m site with 498sq m workshop, which he has upgraded, for about $ 550,000.
Mr Harding said they had outgrown the Guerney St site and needed more room.
But he also had an eye to the Townsville property market for investment.
“I believe it is better to own than lease.
“As the property market improves, you get the benefit of the value,” Mr Harding said.
“I can see that within the next 12 months to two years there will be quite an increase in the value of properties.
“With Adani ( Carmichael coal mine) happening and the football stadium, I think things will start to move.”
E- Property North Queensland agent Steve Whaling, who negotiated the sale, is also now seeking tenants for Mr Harding’s two sites – each providing around 170sq m of self- contained workshop space.
Mr Whaling said the Carmel St premises provided the bonus of signage space on to busy Woolcock St at the rear of the property.
“This is another example of an owner- occupier recognising we are at the bottom of the property cycle and positioning themselves for the inevitable turn,” he said.
Mr Whaling said the leasing market was patchy but improving.
“We are chipping away. There are still plenty of vacancies but inquiries have improved and I think it will continue to do that,” Mr Whaling said.