By BRIDGET COOK
WORKS on the $40 million expansion of the Cranbourne Home centre will start next week, with the centre set to double its size and create up to 600 local jobs.
Construction will start on Wednesday 17 September to add a Masters Home Improvement and an additional five homemaker retailers to centre.
The expansion will take the centre to 62,000 square metres boasting 40 showrooms and 1668 car spaces – making it one of Australia’s largest homemaker centres.
The centre is owned and managed by retail investment group BBRC Property and this particular project is a joint venture between long-term friends John Dunscombe and Brett Blundy who both grew up in Casey.
Mr Blundy is the owner of BBRC Property as well a global retailer with brands including Lovisa, Bras and Things, Dusk, and Adairs.
He opened his first retail store in 1980 in Pakenham called Disco Duck which was later rebranded to Sanity.
He said he was proud of his humble beginnings growing up in Clyde and was excited about the final expansion of Cranbourne Home.
BBRC Property chief executive Darren Holland said the additional building of large format retail space at the Cranbourne site marks the culmination of five years in planning and the belief in the region by the companies.
“Cranbourne Home expanded retail offer will provide more reasons for proud locals to shop and ultimately the customer is going to be the winner,” he said.
“Both Masters and Bunnings will provide highly competitive prices to make renovating even more affordable for locals.
“BBRC Property purchased Cranbourne Home in 2004 and has doubled its size over the last 10 years and this final stage will add another 50 per cent to the centres retail area.
“Cranbourne Home was our first homemaker centre purchased and since then BBRC Property has grown rapidly to be the largest private investor and manager of large format centres with 11 major centres nationally valued at over $700m.”
Masters senior development manager Chris Raywood said they were proud to be working with BBRC Property and the City of Casey.
“We are excited about bringing a new Masters Home Improvement store to Cranbourne Home next year,” he said.
“Masters stores provide customers with a great range of hardware and home improvement products from paint, tools, garden, kitchens, bathrooms and much more at Australia’s lowest prices.”
Construction will start next week when City of Casey mayor Geoff Ablett turns the sod to commence works and plant a commemorative tree.
The expansion is expected to be finished in late 2015.
