Millicent business expansion

ON THE MOVE: Teagle Excavations manager Kurt Stephan and office staff Briana Lewis and Kristy Palmer examine the plans on the site of the company's expansion. Picture: J.L. "FRED" SMITH
ON THE MOVE: Teagle Excavations manager Kurt Stephan and office staff Briana Lewis and Kristy Palmer examine the plans on the site of the company’s expansion. Picture: J.L. “FRED” SMITH

A MILLICENT family-owned company founded almost 70 years ago is looking to build a new office complex.

Teagle Excavations has recently submitted plans to Wattle Range Council for the new solid structure on its Williams Road land.

If the application gets the green light, it will resemble a house from the outside and be in close proximity to the company’s sheds, workshop, truck and machinery yards and existing office.

The plan shows four additional off-street car parking spaces will be created and the office complex will include two offices, reception area, boardroom, meeting room and amenities.

There is a post-war, timber-framed dwelling currently on the land and it will have to be removed.

Council regards the office complex as a category three application and so it has invited public comment.

The earthmoving company was founded in the early 1950s by Millicent resident Len Teagle and it now has a workforce of 25.

He is no longer involved in the day-to-day running of the business, but the family association continues with his son Geoff Teagle and grandson Shawn Teagle.

Geoff Teagle is the firm’s managing director and has welcomed the expansion.

“The company is out-growing the old offices and we are looking ahead to the next 30 years,” Mr Teagle said.

“It shows confidence in Millicent’s future and we are keeping locals employed.”

Teagle Excavations manager Kurt Stephan also views the development in a positive light.
“It will provide us with a more professional base and the office will be fit-for-purpose,” Mr Stephan said.

“We are expanding our range of garden supplies with greater stocks of gravel, bark, gravel and decorative stones.”

Mr Stephan said the company had been busy in 2018 with the new rock wall at Robe’s main town beach, as well as earthworks at Millicent schools, local forests and the Tarpeena timber mill.

“Teagle Excavations is now looking to employ an engineer.”

Back in 2012, Teagle Excavations became the inaugural inductee into the Millicent Business Community Association Hall of Fame.