HOEPNERS GROUP commit to CITISWICH to grow Queenslad business

02/08/2010

Walker Corporation has today announced that national 3rd party logistic company, Hoepners Group, has purchased land at Walker's $1bn Citiswich Business Park for a new purpose-built facility to expand the Supply Chain Solutions arm of its business.

The Hoepners Group of Companies is a national transport and supply chain logistics business, based in Ipswich city. The family-owned business has been operational since 1926 and is now into a third generation of management under owner and Managing Director, Mark Hoepner.

"This is an exciting opportunity for the growth of our business – we saw an opportunity to expand our supply chain operation further into Queensland and northern New South Wales, and given our long history in Ipswich and the growth underway in this corridor, it was logical for us to locate our new facility in Ipswich," said Mr. Hoepner.

Hoepners has purchased 15,000sqm of land for an 8,000sqm facility which will house up to 8,000 pallets of stock and employ up to 25 new staff.

Fittingly, its new facility will be located on Hoepner Road at Citiswich, which Walker has spent $15million extending to create a new, faster and safer connection between Brisbane Road and the Warrego Highway.

"It's a wonderful coincidence that our new premises will be on a street named after our family. It shows the connection our family has had with Ipswich over the last 84 years we have been doing business here, and will continue to have in Ipswich for many years to come," said Mr. Hoepner.

Mr. Hoepner said that location to national highways was paramount in selecting the new site for the Group's facility.

"Citiswich will become an exceptional and important transport & logistical location for south-east Queensland. We will have the ability to service a wide area throughout Queensland and northern New South Wales, alongside easy access to regional centres like Toowoomba and Warwick.

"We've secured a great block of land at Citiswich, close to three major highways and also in close proximity to our existing facility in Bundamba. It's a great destination for us to grow the supply chain arm of the business.

"Our new facility will be equipped with the latest technology and warehouse management systems, giving us the ability to deliver an extremely efficient and effective whole of supply chain solution for our valued clients," added Mr. Hoepner.

Senior Development Manager for Walker Corporation, Ralph Gehrman, welcomed Hoepners Supply Chain Solutions to Citiswich, adding that it was great to see a local business taking advantage of getting in early at the estate.

"As the Ipswich Motorway upgrade continues to near completion, we're seeing more and more businesses realize the potential of Citiswich and this greater western corridor region. This new, improved motorway is going to really open up this whole region, drastically cutting travel times to the Port of Brisbane, CBD and key centres throughout south-east Queensland.

"The commitment of a national supply chain business like Hoepners shows the significance of Citiswich as a destination for transport and logistics businesses – we really see the site as an important hub from which to service south-east Queensland, northern New South Wales and the nation."

"We've got over 200,000sqm of space now committed at the estate, with a further 200,000sqm under negotiation – it really gives us confidence to see these great results."

Mr. Gehrman also added that the new Hoepner Road extension would be complete within a matter of weeks, providing a new and very important link between the Warrego Highway and Brisbane Road.

"Walker has spent $15 million on the extension of this road – it's going to cut travel times for trucks and cars seeking access between Brisbane Road and the Warrego Highway, also reducing heavy traffic on River Road which is a mostly residential area. We expect over 7,000 vehicles per day to utilize this new, important connection."

Colliers International's Industrial Director, Troy Whalan and Industrial Executive, Stewart Gamblin negotiated the sale of the property, with assistance of Executive Investment Sales, Trevor Weinert, on behalf of Walker Corporation.

"Citiswich has been attracting an unprecedented number of enquiries from businesses associated with the recent mining activity in the Surat Basin, due to its ideal location within the outer western suburbs of Brisbane and its accessibility to the Warrego and Cunningham highways," he said.

"In addition, with the surge in population levels within the Ipswich region, an increasing number of businesses are seeing Citiswich as an attractive option, due in part to the increasing potential staff base in the area."

Mr Whalan said it has also been refreshing to have the consistent support of the local council, with the Mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Paul Pisasale, attending a large number of inspections within the estate, offering the support of the local community.

Citiswich Business Park is Queensland's largest industrial development currently underway, and forms part of a $3bn portfolio of industrial projects that Walker Corporation has underway in growth centres around the nation. Alongside the Hoepner Group, the $1bn project has attracted major corporates including The Reject Shop, API, Capral Aluminum, KSB, Caltex, and Thoroughclean among others.

For more information contact:
Simon Nesbitt
0438 238 278

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