Redarc Electronics Lonsdale land deal to have pay-off for south with 140 jobs

ONKAPARINGA Council will sell part of a Lonsdale reserve to Redarc Electronics, as the company embarks on a $20 million expansion plan to create 140 jobs by 2020.

Redarc Electronics managing director Anthony Kittle with the company’s engineering manager, Ruben Lopez, on site last year. Picture: Keryn Stevens

ONKAPARINGA Council will sell part of a Lonsdale reserve to Redarc Electronics, as the company embarks on a $20 million expansion plan which will create 140 jobs by 2020.

The council agreed at its last meeting to sell 3610sq m of the reserve, at the corner of Lindsay and Brian roads, to Redarc at a price “no less than the current market value”.

Redarc managing director Anthony Kittel said that the land could be used to construct a high-security building if the company secured a defence contract, or for additional floor space.

He said it was part of the company’s plan to grow the business, which included a $20 million expansion of its Brodie Rd factory currently underway.

Mr Kittel said the expansion would create an extra 140 jobs, including electronic and computer system engineers, project managers and production staff.

Traineeship and apprenticeships will also be offered.

“We want to support the south and ... we are very passionate about seeing this area develop because it is a great place to do business,” Mr Kittel said.

The company manufactures a range of vehicle accessories, including battery chargers, trailer braking products, portable solar and monitoring gauges. It began the first stage of its expansion in June last year and has since installed state-of-the-art equipment, a new carpark, a diesel generator and solar power system.

Redarc is currently adding an extra 2000sq m of manufacturing space, which is due to be complete by October.

A council report said the economic benefits as part of Redarc’s expansion outweighed keeping the land. Service clubs use two sheds on the land to be sold, but the council agreed to spend $96,000 rebuilding them on the part of the reserve that will remain.

The company’s expansion has been partly funded by a $2.5 million Federal Government grant.