Bunnings Warehouse Dubbo: New store set for old RAAF base

Fire up the snags because a super-sized hardware outlet is set to move in to the old airforce base in Dubbo if approved.

The site of the old RAAF base in Dubbo could soon be home to a new Bunnings Warehouse. Picture: Dubbo Drone Photography

Dubbo’s old Bunnings Warehouse will be closed and replaced with a massive new store 500 car park spaces as part of a $30 million proposal to transform the old RAAF base on Cobra Street.

Construction plans were lodged with Dubbo Regional Council last week and if approved, would mean a new Bunnings 5000 sqm bigger than the existing site on Sheraton Road.

An artists impression of the new Bunnings proposed for Dubbo. Picture: Bunnings

The proposed store would be more than 17,500 sqm in size and include a new main warehouse, nursery, timber trade sales area, cafe and playground.

A 1600 sqm specialised bulk trade offering and parking for 500 cars will also be included in the development if it gets the green light.

Dubbo Chamber of Commerce President Matt Wright. Picture: Dubbo Chamber of Commerce

Bunnings regional operations manager Robyn Hudson said the development would create new jobs for locals and offer customers and even bigger range of home and lifestyle products.

“We look forward to working with the relevant authorities throughout the development application process and will keep the community updated as things progress,” she said.

Bunnings could not reveal when customers might be able to walk through the doors of the new store because “it is very early days” in the development process.

Andorra Developments is redeveloping the former RAAF base which has not been used for more than 15 years.

About 400 homes are expected to be constructed on the site along with a tourism and industrial precinct which could include cafes, pubs, accommodation options and other retail outlets.

Dubbo Chamber of Commerce President Matt Wright said the investment Bunnings was prepared to make in Dubbo was good news for other businesses in the city.

“Confidence breeds confidence,” he said.

“A lot of businesses who are smaller and already established may be able to take confidence away from the fact a big company like Wesfarmers is prepared to invest in Dubbo,” he said.

“It does present another opportunity for another retailer to take on the empty space left by Bunnings and that could be even more good news.”

Dubbo’s existing Bunnings store opened in 2008 and has been an integral part of the growth of the Blueridge Business Park precinct in East Dubbo.