MOUNT Gambier’s commercial construction boom is continuing amid news a multi-million dollar new roadhouse and industrial subdivision development will be created on the city’s eastern gateway.
Toorminamatta Pty Ltd has approval to construct a United Petroleum 24 roadhouse on Jubilee Highway East at Glenburnie as well as a nine-allotment commercial/industrial estate.
This latest commercial project follows a string of developments under way or in the pipeline, which are injecting millions of dollars into the city’s economy.
These include the $6.8m ALDI warehouse and associated retail stores, $12m Coles Supermarket project, the multi-million dollar Boandik Wellbeing Community Centre and the two proposed On The Run developments.
Mount Gambier realtor Allen Smith – who brokered the land sale transaction for the new United petrol station development – said the city was enjoying a buoyant commercial investment period.
“Mount Gambier is coming of age,” Mr Smith said at the proposed construction site yesterday on the fringe of Mount Gambier.
“This investment is showing companies have confidence in the long-term future of Mount Gambier. Companies plan not for next year, but for the next 15 to 20 years.”
He said Mount Gambier was on the national investment radar due to its water and climate as well as its diverse business and agricultural sectors.
“There is significant interest in land – it is unbelievable. This interest is not just in the region but nationally.”
Mr Smith said the United Petroleum development would bring further competition to the city’s fuel market and would cater for heavy vehicles.
“It is designed as a roadhouse for the big trucks,” said Mr Smith, who explained the development was near the new McDonald’s store.
He said the development would also include a new commercial estate on the remaining sections of the land.
Mr Smith said the project would see the first United Petroleum development in the Mount Gambier district.
Toorminamatta company director David Browne said the roadhouse would include a Pie-Face eatery and would have large ingress for trucks and cars.
While the company had been rolling out projects long the east coast of Australia, he said United wanted to expand into the Mount Gambier market.
Regarding the commercial estate, Mr Browne said a number of businesses had already flagged interest in moving onto the site.
He said these included a mechanical repair business as well as a printing operator.
“The site has high visibility given it is on the Jubilee Highway,” Mr Browne said.
He said works on the site would start in around eight weeks with the subdivision the first to be rolled out.
Mr Browne foreshadowed the roadhouse would completed in April/May next year.
The roadhouse is expected to create between six to eight jobs.
According to plans lodged with Mount Gambier City Council, the development will include a fuel shop as well as retail and dining facilities.
The project will also require modifications to section of the median strip on Jubilee Highway East subject to the approval of the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.
Toorminamatta Pty Ltd lodged a separate application for the land division to create additional allotments at 193-195 Jubilee Highway East, Glenburnie.
This application also included the construction of an internal access road from Jubilee Highway.
The land is zoned commercial.
