Industrial Precinct in Demand
The Morning Bulletin - August 1 2011
John Kele has just spent $7.2 million building a massive food distribution centre at Parkhurst.
And he can’t wait to develop more of the booming industrial precinct north of Rockhampton which is benefiting from the mining boom.
The state-of-the-art building, which has room for more than 2000 pallets of food, is one of nine commercial sheds at Parkhurst that have either just been finished or are nearing completion.
Insiders say that level of activity is unprecedented in the Rockhampton region and proof that the investment by international companies in the Bowen and Surat basins is starting to have a positive impact on the local economy.
John, a director of the KPG :: Kele Property Group, has leased the distribution facility to Bidvest Australia Limited, the largest food service distributor in the country.
The company will move on to the 8000 square metre site during August and the centre, which has a floor area of 4200sq m and contains freezer and refrigerated rooms, will become a vital cog in its national network.
“It’s great to see a multinational company like Bidvest investing and showing such a commitment to our region.
"This is really good news for CQ,” said John.
His company will spend a further $6.5 million on an additional four factory buildings on the last four blocks on the estate.
“We already have applications in with the council and once we have development approvals we will be advertising for tenants,” he said.
The company says Parkhurst is ideally placed to benefit from the mining boom.
“Companies which supply and support mining want to get established here.
“The demand is there.
"If you look at Mackay it is getting very expensive.
"We are close to the mines and at Parkhurst companies can operate around the clock.”
