Plans for new laundry finalised

Tenders are about to be called for a new commercial laundry to be built in Bundaberg.

Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash visited the site today along with Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt and Impact Community Services CEO Tanya O’Shea.

“This is an important step in fulfilling a 2016 federal election commitment by the Coalition Government,” Minister Nash said.

“The government is investing $900,000 for the construction of a purpose-built laundry which will create approximately 25 full time positions over the next five years.

“Job-creating projects like this are all part of the Liberal National Party’s plan to build the kinds of communities that our children and grandchildren either want to stay in or come back to,” Minister Nash said today.

Mr Pitt said the big winners of this project were people with a disability or mental illness.

“The new employees will have additional support to help them adjust to working life and develop the skills to maintain employment and be a part of the community,” he said.

Mrs O’Shea said the workers at New Image Laundry (NIL) – which was purchased by Impact in 2013 – were excited to see the plans finalised.

“We’ve outgrown the current premises, so the workers won’t know themselves in the new facility,” she said.

“The machinery has been ordered from Germany and we hope construction will begin in August or September.”

Mrs O’Shea said the new laundry will also be able to offer a range of work experience options to local schools and help young people to explore opportunities in management, chemical usage, hygiene and cleaning processes and logistics.