Bunnings is investing more than $420 million to open at least 12 new stores in NSW over the next three years, creating 2000 new jobs in Bunnings and some 2400 additional jobs during the store construction phase. The hardware retailer is also opening a new warehouse store in Narellan, NSW.
“With the opening of 12 new stores across New South Wales over the next three years, we will be able to deliver our successful offer to new markets and also significantly upgrade our offer in existing markets,” said Bunnings chief operating officer, Peter Davis.
“The $57million investment we’ve made in a new Bunnings warehouse in Chatswood is a great example of our ability to adapt our store format. This huge multi-level store with parking and shopping over four levels is based on international best practice for inner-urban stores and will deliver the full range of products and services Bunnings has to offer,” he said.
New South Wales Treasurer Eric Roozendaal welcomed Bunnings’ ongoing investments. “My priority is supporting jobs in the $360 billion NSW economy – and I congratulate Bunnings for their massive investment into NSW,” he said.
Bunnings general manager – property Matthew Toohey said opportunities in the property market over the past 18 months had enabled the retailer to secure a strong pipeline of new stores in New South Wales and across the country.
“We are very pleased with the quality of the new sites that we’ve secured, and we continue to actively look for new sites in New South Wales, with a number of sites currently under negotiation,” said Toohey.
Over the past 18 months Bunnings opened four new stores in Kirrawee, Randwick, Hoxton Park and Taree and two trade centres in Cameron Park and Unanderra, in addition to completing major upgrades at Campbelltown and Kotara. This investment created some 740 new jobs – 240 new jobs in Bunnings and 500 more during the construction phase – as a result of ongoing investment in NSW.