Narromine to be home to Simmons Global $32m development

More than 250 jobs of the future will be created in a small town in regional NSW as part of a new development reviving Australia’s manufacturing industry.

Plans for a groundbreaking $32 million advanced manufacturing hub in the NSW central west have been unveiled after the company behind the projected announced it would relocate its headquarters from Perth to Narromine, 40km west of Dubbo.

Up to 253 full-time jobs are expected to be created at the proposed Simmons Global development at the aerodrome.

Simmons Global CEO David Simmons with plans for the Narromine advanced manufacturing hub. Picture: Ryan Young

The company’s chief executive officer David Simmons revealed his vision for the development at a media event with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, Deputy Premier Paul Toole and Dubbo state Nationals MP Dugald Saunders in Dubbo on Monday.

Mr Simmons said the State Government’s decision to award his business a $4.8 million grant from its Regional Job Creation Fund was a “pivotal” factor which gave him the confidence to invest in Narromine.

“The type of equipment we’ll be using in hellishly expensive,” Mr Simmons told The Dubbo News.

“You cannot invest in that unless you’re confident, the government stepping in with this program has meant they’ve supported us to procure that technology.”

Designed to make the cost of manufacturing in Australia more internationally competitive by harnessing innovation, the state-of-the-art technology and equipment set to be used at the Narromine development will include robotics, automated assembly machines and aspects of artificial intelligence (AI).

“We’re going to bring that in from technology providers overseas who have said they’re going to come and assist us with the training program,” Mr Simmons said.

“The training is literally for anybody who’s interested in an opportunity for advanced manufacturing.

“We’re looking for apprentices, cadets, trainees. We need a full complement and not in one field but a full spectrum of fields such as mechanical, electrical, aviation and automation, that’s just a few.”

Supplied Editorial Plans for the Narromine advanced manufacturing hub. Picture: Ryan Young

Mr Simmons said among the reasons Narromine was the best location for a development of this kind, were its location close to the eastern seaboard and the availability of land near at the aerodrome.

“We looked around a lot of different locations around NSW,” he said.

“We needed space, in the big cities that costs a lot of money and it’s cost prohibitive.

“We need the aerodrome for our aviation side of things.”

The support of Narromine Shire Council was also appealing to Mr Simmons, who said products made in the town would be used across the world.

The council’s general manager Jane Redden said the development was “a great thing for our shire”.

“Certainly, probably outside the mine at Tomingley, this would be the biggest development we’ve had forever really,” she said.

A development application has been lodged and pending approvals, work on construction could get underway by October 2022.

Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the Narromine development would benefit not only current, but future generations of workers in regional NSW.

“The Regional Job Creation Fund funding will help deliver an advanced manufacturing precinct that produces everything from unmanned aerial drones to solar UV monitors that tell teachers when students should play in the shade, as well as help upskill local indigenous and youth workers through apprenticeships,” he said.

Dubbo state Nationals MP Dugald Saunders said a development of this kind would lead to many indirect financial benefits for other regional towns and businesses.

“By setting businesses up for success we’re helping them to attract new customers, which means more people in work and earning a wage that they will spend in local shops, supporting our local economy.”