Masters Home Improvement has confirmed it has put off construction of a $12.4 million complex at Dubbo but it remains "committed to bringing a new store" to the city.
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The hardware venture had previously told of plans to start building on an approved Cobra Street site in 2016 but on Monday a spokeswoman said the date had been deferred.
The company had "no confirmed timelines to share".
Modified plans for an 11,500-square metre Masters store and floor space for other retailers were approved in February 2014, at which time the company forecast the creation of about 185 construction jobs, and another 120 full-time, part-time and casual positions when it opened.
As recently as November Masters, a joint venture between Woolworths and US home-improvement chain Lowe's, had told the Daily Liberal it had nothing further to add to comments made mid last year, when the 2016 construction starting date was advised.
Then on Friday Tamworth mayor Col Murray reported being told by Masters senior development manager Tony Pratt that a Masters project in his city had been "deferred indefinitely" as part of a new company focus, Cr Murray said.
Yesterday a spokeswoman confirmed the plans to enter the Dubbo market had changed.
"Masters Home Improvement remains committed to bringing a new store to Dubbo," she said.
"As a result of a review of our store rollout plans, we have deferred the previously advised construction start date of 2016.
"We are excited about joining the Dubbo community, bringing our fantastic range, advice and convenience to keen DIYers and trade customers, and generating hundreds of local jobs.
"We will keep the local community updated about our plans to open a Masters in Dubbo.
"At this stage we have no confirmed timelines to share."
Masters was previously reported as having plans to open 150 stores in five years and a store at Kelso that opened last year became the 41st in its stable.
Cr Murray said Mr Pratt had told him the project in Tamworth had been deferred indefinitely and Masters had allowed the options to purchase a site in his city to lapse.
"Mr Pratt explained the decision was not reflection on Tamworth but rather a new company focus put in place by the new CEO, who wants the company to consolidate and improve the performance of their existing stores and increase its presence in metropolitan areas before expanding further in regional Australia," Cr Murray said.
The approval of development plans for Masters came more than five years after the Wesfarmers group's Bunnings Warehouse opened in a $24.6 million complex on Sheraton Road at Dubbo.
* What the store would look like - take a look at Masters Home Improvement in Bathurst.