Construction of the new establishment on the Horne Road site is underway, and business director Mick Macklin is hopeful it will be open by the end of June.

He said the business had chosen the new industrial estate after outgrowing its current Walsh Road premises.

“We were after a bigger premises and we liked the idea of something new and fresh,” Mr Macklin said.

“We have been able to design our own space here and have it how we want it.”

Mr Macklin said the new premises had Horne Road frontage.

“It gives us an opportunity for new displays,” Mr Macklin said. 

“We would like to be open by the end of June.” 

The Gateway Business Park proponents are Brendan Howard, Tom Lindsey and Tony Herbert.

Mr Howard said 12 lots from 22 had been sold as part of stage one. Eventually there will be over 150 sites.

“It’s a mix of Melbourne and local buyers,” he said.

“There are some small scale but technologically advanced manufacturers who are going onto sites.”

Mr Howard said it had been a “big project to get underway”.

“To get all the services to the site has been an enormous effort,” he said. “The first stage produced some challenges which we have been able to overcome due to good partnerships with the Warrnambool City Council and Wannon Water.”

He said site sales had shown “a fair degree of confidence in Warrnambool”. 

Stage two construction is expected to start early next year.