Community & Business
4 May, 2023
New home for South East Engineering
After 18 years on East Street, local fabricator and manufacturer South East Engineering Services have moved across town to the corner of Logan Road and William Street.
Business owners Keith and Deena Joppich said they had well and truly outgrown their old premises about ten years ago.
They started the process of moving a few weeks ago and are now completely out of the East Street site.
Although the modest-sized block was fine to begin with, they now have six full-time staff and three part-time staff, requiring more space than what was available.
Mr Joppich said they had been looking for more space for quite some time and were excited when the opportunity to purchase the block at 12 William Street arose.
He said previous owner Ryan Metcalf had moved his business out of the site about two years ago and it had remained vacant since.
The site includes a huge blue shed but lacks a proper office, something the Joppichs wish to add.
South East Engineering Service Pty Ltd submitted a development application in April to Toowoomba Regional Council towards that goal.
As part of the application, Precinct Urban Planning submitted a planning report on behalf of South East Engineering.
The planning report says the proposal involves the establishment of a free-standing ancillary office to cater for the existing mixed use industrial complex at the 5,999m2 site.
“The existing industrial premises is lawfully utilised as a transport depot, mechanical workshop, light engineering, machinery sales workshop and storage sheds,” it says.
The existing industrial shed has a gross floor area (GFA) of approximately 496m2 and the proposed ancillary office will involve a GFA of 159m2.
The planning report says the proposed building will be single-storey, constructed of high quality and contemporary building materials and will include multiple office rooms, a staff room, and amenities.
Access to the office will be from William Street via a new crossover, to be constructed.
With the new premises now up and running and hopefully approval for a new office coming soon, Mr Joppich said there is potential to create more local jobs at his business.
He said they have started new apprentices recently and boilermakers are always in demand.
He said they employ fitters and mechanics too, however being someone who knows how to do a
bit of everything is helpful these days.
Mrs Joppich said something they have been asked a lot is what they plan to do with the old East Street office.
She said they have not yet decided what to do.
Those who have not yet visited the new site should make sure they are going to the right place, as online mapping services take you to the wrong spot on William Street.
Look for the big blue shed on the corner of Logan Road.
