RESIDENTS in Wonthaggi will be able to access an even wider range of home and lifestyle products close to home, with Bunnings opening the doors to its new store.
The 9,000sqm store will replace the existing site, and represents an investment of over $30 million in the local community.
Among the 120-strong team members – including 27 new roles – are experts in timber, tools, paint, kitchens, plumbing, gardening, and outdoor living.
The store also welcomes new offerings including a dedicated special orders desk, kitchen area, kids’ playground, self-checkouts, and café.
Customers will also find a four-lane drive-thru trade yard, nursery, paint counter and over 200 car parks.
Expanding from a two-lane, to a four-lane fully enclosed trade drive-thru – the new store is designed to have more stock in weight and width, providing the specialist and commercial customer with more on offer.
Bunnings have invested heavily in the size and scope of the nursery, offering a separate entrance and service area, and with more stock available instore it enables same day purchase for large projects.
The biggest product range expansion for Bunnings in the past six months is pets, with the Wonthaggi store increasing from a three bay offer to a 12-bay offer. Including the stock levels on pet food etc.
One of the biggest draw cards for the community is the addition of the playground and café – allowing customers to eat in or take away hot food, drinks, and sweet treats. This space will tie in with the community activities that will continue at the new store, including face painting and kids and adults DIY sessions.
The leisure area adjacent to the café has also expanded to approximately five times bigger than the original site; inclusive of outdoor furniture, gazebos, and BBQs with more products on display and more stock available instore.
The electrical department has increased to three aisles, with indoor, outdoor, and decorative lighting on display and more stock instore for specialist and commercial trade.
And for those DIY projects, the Bunnings kitchen selection centre has three full displays of cabinetry and appliances to allow customers to see what’s available in doors, benchtops, and splashback.
New Bunnings Wonthaggi complex manager Chris Deacon said they were proud of the team’s performance and to their credit, they’ve not only kept the other store running at 110% pace, but managed to put this new store together in just four weeks.
“We know the community are excited to have the bigger store in town and our trade specialists have had a lot of interest from local trades and commercial builders and they’re really looking forward to the increased offer we’ll have available instore.”
As part of the store opening celebrations, the Wonthaggi team offered hands-on support to various local community groups. This included assisting with repair works at Pound Creek CFA’s station and amenities, as well as lending a helping hand in the garden at Inverloch RSL and Wonthaggi North Kindergarten.
The new store will also have a range of sustainability initiatives that will reduce its environmental impact including a major solar PV system on the site roof with 366 panels, a 240,000-litre water tank for the nursery and energy-efficient heating, cooling, and LED lighting.
The new Bunnings Wonthaggi is located at the corner of McKenzie Street and White Road. It will host official grand opening celebrations for customers in July. Customers can keep an eye on the Bunnings Wonthaggi website for further details.