A Bundaberg business could soon expand its operations to supply steel house frames and roof trusses to the building industry if a development application is approved.
McHugh Steel recently submitted a Material Change of Use – Medium Impact Industry application to Bundaberg Regional Council for the development of a new factory to service the home building industry.
The application states the proposal is a new initiative for the local business, which had previously focused on the manufacture of steel sheds and buildings.
“The proposal stems from the recognition of a market opportunity brought on by Covid-related material shortages and lack of availability of imports,” the application states.
If approved, the factory would service the domestic housing market, project home builders and the commercial and industrial market.
The application proposed to manufacture approximately 15 house frames per week, amounting to approximately 3800 tonnes of product per annum.
The factory site is 1.959 ha in area and located at Eva Street and Enid Ethel Drive, Kensington.
“The building would accommodate an assembly line of forty producing tables where frames and trusses are screwed together by a workforce of twenty,” the application states.
“Completed products would then be moved forward by power rollers and manually by-hand, then boxed and bound preparing for shipping on road transport.
“In addition to the roll forming plant and producing tables’ equipment would include overhead cranes, forklifts and yard cranes.”
According to the application, approximately 1200 tonnes of steel stock will be stored for use within the building.
The application states, to manage and direct the fabrication and dispatch activity on site, a large support staff would be required and accommodated in the two-storey office component of the building.
“The building would contain a large general office area on the lower floor of fifteen detailers,” it said.
“Detailers produce, via CAD, the design and bill of material for each project, in a form ready to send by computer to the framing machines.
“The office would also accommodate one office manager and one production manager, a toilet block for the factory as well as a toilet block for office staff, a lunchroom for outside staff and one for inside staff plus a small reception and meeting room.
“The upper floor of the office building would consist of a drafting office and equipment, a general manager’s office, three clerical offices, a kitchen, a boardroom, and utilities.”
More development news: Wide Bay Private Day Hospital application lodged
I need your contacts E-MAIL or WhatsApp number