NSW's first Woolworths hardware store to rival Bunnings is poised to open in Maitland, reports the Newcastle Herald.
Woolworths is said to have lodged a development application with Maitland City Council, scheduled to be discussed at a council meeting on Tuesday night, and is recommended for consideration by the joint regional planning panel.
The $13 million development for the corner of Anambah Road and Mustang Drive, is expected to create between 130 and 150 jobs once complete.
A Woolworths spokesman confirmed to the Herald that Maitland was one of 150 stores across Australia the company wanted operational within five years.
"Rutherford was the first site in NSW for our home-improvement venture and the first in NSW to go before the planning process," a spokesman for the company said.
"We can't commit to a time frame for the store at this point because our proposal is subject to the planing process.”
While the new chain of stores is set to compete mostly with rival Coles-affiliate Bunnings, it will also take aim at bulky-goods retailers such as Harvey Norman and The Good Guys by selling electrical equipment and whitegoods as well as hardware and home improvement items.
This article first appeared on TandLnews.com.au