Shoalhaven Councillors have helped to push along a development application lodged by Bunnings and Nowra Property Group that could see the South Nowra Bunnings Warehouse expand by almost two and a half times its current size.
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Last Tuesday, councillors voted in favour of permitting the DA to proceed in its current form.
The matter was brought to the chamber as the applicant has sought a height limit variation of more than 10 per cent (from 11m to 15.5m).
It is now up to council staff to make a determination on the development application.
Read more: New $278m Bunnings complex for South Nowra
In a deputation to council, applicant and Bunnings’ development approvals manager Phillip Drew confirmed the development would create an extra 50 to 70 ongoing roles at a site that already employs 150 casual, full-time and part-time workers.
“It will be one of the biggest stores in our network,” he said.
Councillor Nina Cheyne asked Mr Drew if Bunnings had job opportunities open for Aboriginal people, and programs to attract Aboriginal job-seekers to their workforce, considering the area’s high proportion of Indigenous people.
“Bunnings is a very community-conscious employer, we take all members of the community; young, old,” Mr Drew said.
“We have many Aboriginal team members, and many other team members from all walks of life. We are looking for the best team for the community and we’d encourage any Aboriginal community members to apply for a position.”
