Construction booming in Warrnambool as major projects get under way

Nicholsons Construction director Paul Toye said the company had long had a presence in Warrnambool, but winning concurrent major projects had meant they had now opened an office in town.

And the projects have also created more jobs for locals.

"We've always had a significant presence in the area, but it's probably more notable at the moment," he said.

Over the past 10 years the company, which is based in Ballarat, has worked on 40 projects across the region, but now has about $50 million worth of projects on its books from Warrnambool and the south-west.

They include the new library hub on the TAFE site, Lyndoch Living's primary healthcare centre, works at Budj Bim and the Hamilton Baimbridge College capital works project.

"In the last three years we've doubled in size. We'll probably turn over in the region of $150 million this coming year, depending on what COVID does to us," Mr Toye said.

And the south-west has contributed to a significant portion of that turnover.

Mr Toye said there was a downturn in the industry six or seven years ago, but that had now changed. "It's quite a busy period in construction at the moment. We seem to be on an upward trajectory at the moment and hopefully that will continue," he said.

He said there were a lot of exciting projects planned for Warrnambool such as the hydrogen hub at Deakin University and the new hospital.

Project manager for the south-west Damien Tan said the company had increased staff numbers to cover the Warrnambool projects.

"To have these two major projects running in Warrnambool at the same time has meant that we can grow our workforce with locals which is fantastic," Mr Tan said.

"We have two new graduates. One has just finished uni last year and he's a Warrnambool boy and he's been able to come back home to a job." At their peak, the Lyndoch and TAFE projects will employ more than 120 people onsite. The Budj Bim project will at its peak employ 50 people, and the $6 million Baimbridge College project will employ another 50.

"Construction has definitely taken off in the last six months or so," Mr Tan said.

He said getting materials for the projects, such as glass and timber, had been a challenge.

"On a lot of our projects we are looking to change from timber to metal wall framing," he said.

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