HITTING TOP GEAR
ONE of Australia’s leading motor dealerships has backed Cairns as a place to invest and revealed its latest development – sparkling new showrooms and service facilities on the highest-profile corner in town.
Trinity Auto Group, part of the Tony White Group, spent two years planning its latest project on the corner of McLeod and Florence streets and six months building it to an international standard.
“The owners of Trinity Auto Group have invested heavily in the town over the last five or six years, upgrading four or five showrooms – this being the final one, but the most substantial,” said company principal Richard Jaska.
Mr Jaska said the development had been signed off by Ford in the US as a “current international standard facility”.
“So if you walked into a Ford showroom around the world, you would see exactly the same finish.”
He said the company had been in Cairns nearly 67 years and had faith in the city. It has spent more than $4 million in the last two years.
“We are confident in the region still and we want to make sure we’re a mainstay player in town and that will remain the case. We are one of the largest employers in town and when the town is running, busy, we employ a lot of people.
“Our employee range is anything from 130 to 150 people, depending on the seasons.
“I think it’s important for everyone to recognise that the industry is one of the hardest hit in Australia at the moment, but we are doing whatever it takes to keep our staff employed. We’re still looking at employing additional people on top of the people returning.”
Mr Jaska said the upgraded facilities included a new Ford showroom and a range of new service facilities.
“We have two new service reception areas, two new service waiting lounges, have upgraded the workshop, parts department and administration department.
“We’ve also built a new showroom adjacent to this building, which will be allocated to MG. We expect to have that up and running in the next couple of months. There will be a 2-3 car display showroom for MG, which is an up-andcoming brand in Australia.”
Mr Jaska said Trinity Auto Group had used local company Keir Constructions for an international finish that had delighted staff.
“Spirits lifted dramatically. It wasn’t great timing because of all the dramas with COVID, but the end result is a world of change.
“It’s a joy to walk into this facility. It’s clean, it’s vibrant, it’s open. On a scale of zero to 10, the difference is 10.”
The official opening will be held at a later date once COVID restrictions ease.