Mountain Industries sets up operations in Melbourne's west, joining a growing number of firms moving into the area
By Ruza Zivkusic | October 11, 2011
Mountain Industries has established operations in Melbourne’s west to expand its nationwide presence, joining a growing number of firms moving into the area.
The company last week moved into its new venue of 2500sq m, where it now stores undercover pallets, freight manager Kevin Bennett says.
Previously located in West Sunshine for two years, the company saw a need to be closer to the Port of Melbourne, he adds.
“We have moved to Melbourne, and especially Brooklyn, because it gives us a national presence. We have a depot in Newcastle and in Brisbane, it just gives us the capability to offer our clients a service on the east coast,” Bennett says.
“Brooklyn seemed appealing because it’s relatively close to the port. We do a lot of container work so it made a logical sense to be as close to the port as possible.”
Real estate firm Colliers International says demand for industrial properties in the west is exceeding available supply due to a surge in multinationals taking up space.
Colliers manager Nathan Bingham says leasing demand has doubled in 2010 from the previous year.
“Demand is driven by expansion and consolidation. The main fundamentals why Melbourne – in particular the west – is the most dominant market in Australia and has the cheapest rent because it’s close to the port and CBD,” he says.
“It really ticks every box. We expect to see a trend towards major distribution centres in Melbourne as opposed to smaller distribution centres in every state.”
Demand is also being driven by affordability and Bingham says he does not expect the rent to increase as many of the offices and warehouses are old.
