Mega car sales plan

By DANIELLE GALVIN

DEVELOPMENT at the site of the SouthEast Business Park is looking up – with plans for a car megamart complex.
At the draft budget information session on Monday night, Cardinia Shire Council CEO Garry McQuillan said land had been purchased in the park and there were four or five blocks sold under contract in the last two months.
“Development of these types of business parks were severely hit by global financial crisis,” he said.
“There needs to be a lot more optimism in the business world before we see a higher activity of development at the park.”
Mr McQuillan said plans were being made and said there was a lot “going on” at the site.
Peter Caldwell from the business development team at Car Mega Mart said he was hoping to see the development open mid-November, depending on council permits and construction.
He said the complex included various used car, bike, boat and caravan dealers as well as various service-based businesses related to these industries.
“There are three stages encompassing 22 factories, 43 used car yards, and an on-site finance office and café which will all help the local community by providing a one-stop shop for local and regional customers who use the freeway regularly,” Mr Caldwell said.
“In total there will be 1200 used cars in stage one and a further 800 in stage two, giving the local customers a much greater choice when it comes to choosing their next car.
“On top of this it will also provide a major boost to the local economy with some 250-plus employees throughout the complex bringing plenty of new people to the area from various areas throughout Melbourne, most of whom are established businesspeople who have an excellent reputation which is what our complex is all about.”
The council’s development services manager Brett Jackson said the council was assessing a planning application for a motor vehicle, boat and caravan sales lot and warehouse development at SouthEast Business Park on the Princes Freeway in Pakenham.
He said a decision regarding the application would be made soon.