Fifty-five jobs to go at Helensvale as Boardriders closes distribution centre

THE new owner of Billabong has announced the relocation of its Gold Coast distribution centre, which will likely lead to redundancies next year.

Boardriders will move its national headquarters to Burleigh Heads, where Billabong is located. Picture: Richard Gosling

NEW Billabong owner Boardriders will close the Helensvale distribution centre next year, cutting 55 jobs in the process.

The centre is to be relocated to Geelong while the national headquarters will move to Burleigh Heads.

Boardriders said the Burleigh Heads move will create a “significant” number of jobs, without offering details.

“At this stage we are still identifying the functions that will remain across both offices,” a spokesman said.

Billabong shareholders voted on March 8 to accept a $1.05 a share offer from California-based Boardriders, which is majority-owned by US group Oaktree Capital.

The company ceased trading on the ASX in April, when its market capitalisation was listed at $206.99 million.

The Boardriders headquarters in Torquay will move to the Gold Coast. Picture: Glenn Ferguson

A statement from Quiksilver owner Boardriders today said that “after a thorough review”, it had decided to choose Geelong as its main distribution centre in Australia.

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“The expanded facility in Geelong will support the full portfolio of brands following the combination of Boardriders and Billabong,” the statement reads.

“As part of the expansion of Geelong, the company will close its distribution

facility in Helensvale, Queensland, in mid-2019.

Boardriders said it was working out what roles would be suitable for relocation to Geelong.

Boardriders took over Coast-based Billabong, founded in 1973, this year. Photo: Supplied

Boardriders global president Greg Healy said the changes meant the company maintained its footprint in locations that were important to both the heritage of Boardriders and Billabong.

“We are very excited to grow our operations in Geelong as we service all of our brands

from one centralised location,” he said.

“We are thankful to the employees in Helensvale for their dedication and hard work.”