The new owner of Dubbo's former meatworks site has plans to turn it into a heavy industrial park, and in a twist his first job was at the abattoir.
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Craig Holdsworth is working towards redeveloping the Mallee Road property in what he anticipates will be a million-dollar investment.
The first step has been the demolition of the main abattoir building in recent weeks.
As its bricks came down, it closed a chapter for the site of the former meatworks, which in its time was a major employer in the city.
Among its workers was Mr Holdsworth, hired as a 14-year-old fresh out of school in 1982.
He has gone on to lead a rail engineering company and a labour hire company with offices at Dubbo, and Yatala and Rockhampton in Queensland.
The businessman's familiarity with the building he has owned for 16 months was evident as he took the Daily Liberal on a tour before the demolition work started.
Mr Holdsworth reported of challenges to negotiate including asbestos at the property, which also served as a mechanics premises and a fruit and vegetable shop of more recent years.
"It was an ugly duckling, no one wanted to touch it because of asbestos and the demolition," Mr Holdsworth said.
The proponent told of work to clear the toxic substance in the lead-up to a development application (DA) to demolish the building being lodged and approved by Dubbo Regional Council in September.
Mr Holdsworth's approach is to do the work "in-house" through CR Plant Solutions.
"When we got the prices to demo it, it was ridiculous... so we've just done it all ourselves, that's the best way to do it," he said.
"Over a million dollars to demo the building, I can do it for 50 [thousand]."
The demolition took nine days and "went perfect".
Everything had been compliant with WorkCover and the DA, he said.
Much of the building material is going to be recycled.
We're going to crush the brick and the concrete, all the steel will be sold to a scrap dealer.
- Craig Holdsworth
"We're going to crush the brick and the concrete, all the steel will be sold to a scrap dealer," Mr Holdsworth said.
"I've also got opal mines out at Lightning Ridge, so all the foam coolroom panelling will go up there."
Demolition done, the focus turns to developing the eight-lot subdivision.
Mr Holdsworth's plan is to build three sheds, and lease them out, as well as having blocks of land.
He will run his own company from one of the lots.
The property owner forecast the proposed subdivision would generate employment.
"It will be a good thing, because this part of North Dubbo is booming..." Mr Holdsworth said.
"I've had some interest already, with people wanting to rent the sheds out."
When asked if his younger self had learnt anything from his first job at the meatworks that set him up for life, Mr Holdsworth laughed.
"Don't get into trouble I suppose, I was pretty wild when I was a young bloke," he said.
Faye Wheeler
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
