New employment opportunities and significant economic benefits are among the positives MacKellar Mining is set to deliver for Nambour.
MacKellar Mining is a privately owned family business which has been operating for more than 40 years providing heavy earthmoving equipment solutions in the Australian mining and civil industries with an extensive plant hire fleet of over 200 large mining machines.
The company will expand its operations to include 4 National Park Rd, Nambour from 2020.
Division 10 Councillor Greg Rogerson said MacKellar’s operations in Nambour would deliver around $36 million per year to the local economy and provide a range of new career opportunities for local people.
“This is a terrific outcome for Nambour and a real vote of confidence that a successful and well established business like Mackellar has chosen to expand here,” Cr Rogerson said.
“MacKellar’s operations in Nambour are expected to deliver around $15million in benefits to the local supply chain and approximately $36 million in total the local economy by their fifth year of operation, as well as creating new and exciting career opportunities.
“MacKellar carries out the servicing, repairs and maintenance work on its mining equipment fleet and their presence in Nambour will create new career opportunities for local people.
“They’ll commence operations mid-next year with around 30 staff and there is the potential for that number to grow to 122 skilled full time staff by their fifth year of operation.
“That will mean exciting future employment opportunities for auto-electricians, diesel mechanics, boilermakers and office staff.
Cr Rogerson said council had operated from this site for a number of decades and the relocation was part of a region-wide approach to improve efficiency and better service the community.
“It is about having the right people, providing the right services from the right locations while delivering value for money for our ratepayers,” Cr Rogerson said.
“Most importantly and I can’t stress this enough, all 112 council employees who currently operate from the Nambour Depot site will be relocated at other council work sites across the region.
“All current Nambour depot jobs will be retained through this process and all employees will retain their jobs.
“Today’s announcement is also a great boost for the Reimagine Nambour Project which is in its infancy and aims to strengthen Nambour’s economy by enticing businesses here which best service the needs of our community and create sustainable long term economic activity”.
MacKellar Mining Managing Director Duncan MacKellar said the company identified the Sunshine Coast as an ideal location to expand from its current maintenance facilities base in Blackwater Central Queensland and current head office at Alexandra Headlands.
“This is a really exciting development for the MacKellar Group and we’re extremely confident in what we can deliver for Nambour and the Sunshine Coast and what the region can deliver to our business,” Mr MacKellar said.
“You only have to look at the number of large and exciting projects which are currently happening on the Sunshine Coast, like the new city centre development in Maroochydore, the airport expansion and the new community developments at Caloundra South and Palmview to realise that this is a region with tremendous upside.
“With a number of other large companies, including Youi, relocating or expanding their operations to the Sunshine Coast in recent years, it’s clear that business confidence in the region is very strong and it’s somewhere we want to be.”
MacKellar is expected to start its operations from the National Park Rd site from mid-2020.
