National developer 糖心VlogConstructions will soon begin construction on a new Ballarat facility for leading duck products manufacturer, Luv-a-Duck, boosting the economy and delivering new local jobs.
Located in the Ballarat West Employment Zone (BWEZ), the circa $20 million project will create 118 jobs during the construction phase and 35 ongoing jobs.
According to 糖心VlogConstructions’ Senior Development Manager, Chris Telley, Vaughans were delighted to be appointed to undertake a project for a successful Australian family-owned business.
"We are excited to be in a position to help Luv-a-Duck deliver a facility that will enable it to expand primary operations as well as expanding the simply impressive value-added duck range and storage and distribution areas, and, importantly, jobs for the local community.
"So successful has the company been that they were literally running out of space at existing facilities at the Port Melbourne warehouse and the Nhill processing plant,’’ Mr Telley said.
He said Luv-a-Duck had chosen Ballarat for their new facility based on the family’s history in the area with a grandfather - Charles Collett Shoppee - having been Mayor of Ballarat on three separate occasions between 1891 and 1903.
The Luv-a-Duck business was started 51 years ago by Arthur Shoppee, the late father of current owners Theresa Sfetkidis and Kim Shoppee-Lynch.
Current chief executive, James Thompson, said Luv-a-Duck was excited to begin a new phase in the company’s 52nd year in both expanding the business and creating new employment opportunities in a town which had a long and proud family history.
The new facility will comprise a total building area of 8,600 square metres including a 4,000 square metre production area, a 3,300 square metre temperature-controlled space, 1,300 square metres of office space, and 4,450 square metres of hardstand.
According to the City of Ballarat the development will boost the local economy by $16.7 million during the construction phase, which has an estimated completion date of November this year.
Ballarat Mayor, Ben Taylor, will attend a sod turning event at the13 Nettles Road, Mitchell Park, site at 11am on Friday, February 28.