The Minns Labor Government's push to rebuild local bus manufacturing in NSW is taking a significant step forward, with construction commencing on a new bus facility which will create over 100 new jobs on the South Coast.
Today the first sod will be turned on the new 6000sqm Foton Mobility Distribution bus manufacturing facility in Nowra. This will allow Foton to scale up to 127 workers, from 19 at their current temporary facility.
The next round of recruitment for 27 positions is expected to be advertised in June, including leading hands, assembly workers, electricians, production line engineer, quality control engineers, payroll and office admin.
Those workers are due to start when the first phase of the new facility is completed in the third quarter of this year.
The benefits will flow beyond the employees with Foton already using six local suppliers: John K Engineering, Lee Sandstrom for auto electrical, Mark Burton for quality assurance, Nowra Signs, Total Tools, and Multiparas Unanderra for components.
Foton Mobility Distribution is an Australian-owned electric bus and truck manufacturing business currently delivering an order for 128 buses as part of the Transport for NSW Zero Emissions Bus program.
Twenty-five Foton buses are already in service at the Bradbury depot Western Sydney and more will soon go into service from the Brookvale depot on the Northern Beaches.
Construction of the new Foton facility will roll out in three phases, with the first phase commencing today and delivering a new manufacturing shed in the third quarter of this year, and a second and third phase expected to deliver a pre-delivery shed and office space in 2027.
Under the 12 years of the former Coalition government local bus and train manufacturing was abandoned with procurement predominantly from overseas suppliers. During this period thousands of local manufacturing jobs were sent overseas, which led to cracked vehicles, ferries with asbestos, and trains which didn't fit the tracks.
Minister for Transport John Graham said:
"This facility will provide much needed economic opportunities for locals in Nowra.
"After watching so many transport manufacturing jobs go offshore under the former government, it's great to see Nowra benefiting from the increase in local manufacturing.
"The Liberals have been criticising this facility at every opportunity. That is an attack on local jobs, and reminds voters that Liberals love sending manufacturing jobs overseas."
Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast Ryan Park said:
"This is a win for the region and a win for workers in Nowra who will benefit from this new facility and the jobs it will help deliver.
"This Government is taking action to restore domestic manufacturing in the South Coast and right across NSW, while ensuring we develop the skills, capacity, and resilience we need for the future."
Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos said:
"This new facility is a strong example of private investment responding to global shifts toward electrification and choosing to back NSW with new capability and skilled jobs.
"The Minns Labor Government wants to see businesses invest, expand and innovate here in NSW, and projects like this show confidence in the future of local manufacturing and the workforce to support it."
Member for the South Coast Liza Butler said:
"Today marks a great day for local manufacturing jobs on the South Coast. It's great news for our community to see a new facility getting set to employ over 100 more local workers.
"This facility will soon be recruiting for a wide range of roles from the factory floor through to engineering, administration, and management. That means real opportunities for local people to build long-term careers close to home."
Member for Kiama Katelin McInerney said:
"I am proud to be part of the Minns Labor Government that is rebuilding local manufacturing, because it means more jobs in our communities.
"This new bus manufacturing facility will mean more jobs, more skills and more work for local contractors."
