Close to 250 people are set be employed in ongoing jobs at the soon-to-be-opened Bennetts Green retail and commercial precinct in a timely boost to the region's unemployment levels.
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The $90 million Spotlight Group development is edging closer to completion with multiple businesses only a few months away from opening their doors.
Construction at the 30,000 square-metre site, which adjoins the Pacific Highway opposite the suburb's existing business area, commenced about a year ago.
The site has been transformed from grass paddocks into the largest retail development built in Lake Macquarie since the 2010 extension of Charlestown Square.
The Newcastle Herald can reveal close to 250 people will ultimately be employed by the 10 businesses confirmed for the site, and some are already in the midst of large recruitment drives.
It comes amid high unemployment rates that the region has not seen in years.
Hunter Business Chamber CEO Bob Hawes said the jobs on offer would particularly help to address "youth unemployment in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle, which has increased during COVID to become amongst the highest in the state".
"The region is screaming out for new opportunities, particularly in entry-level roles appealing to 15- to 24-year-olds," he said.
"This is where we currently have the greatest need.
"Much of the COVID stimulus to date has been targeted at existing employment and roles. If the opening of these new stores provides a net increase in local jobs, it is fulfilling a need without having to rely on subsidies."
Bunnings is expected to be one of the first to open and despite relocating from its existing Belmont site will still employ dozens of extra staff.
"The development is expected to create approximately 60 new job opportunities, in addition to the 140 existing team members transferring to the new warehouse," Bunnings area manager Chloe Riall said.
"The store will span nearly 17,000 square metres, more than 4000 square metres larger than the existing Belmont store and is expected to open by the end of 2020."
McDonald's will recruit about 100 workers for its new restaurant for a mix of full-time, part-time and casual roles across general crew, management, baristas and maintenance.
The company's Newcastle operations manager, Clinton Smith, said McDonald's was "proud" to be creating "new employment and training opportunities" during a period of high unemployment.
"We have a focus on offering our employees outstanding development opportunities and each year we invest millions of dollars into training," he said.
"As a Registered Training Organisation for over 20 years, in addition to our great internal training courses, we're also able to offer nationally recognised traineeships and qualifications."
A KFC outlet is expected to employ about 60 workers while another 10 jobs are on offer at the adjoining BP service station and cafe.
"The BP Bennetts Green is planned to open on October 31," a BP spokesman said.
"We recognise this is an incredibly challenging time for the community and the safety and well-being of our employees, customers and the broader community is our utmost priority.
"The Bennetts Green site will provide around 10 jobs for locals, be open 24-hours a day and will include BP's signature Wild Bean café."
An adjoining PetStock store and veterinary hospital is expected to have about a dozen employees overall.
High-end furniture chain Nick Scali will soon begin recruiting for seven positions and plans to open its 2500 square-metre store in mid-November.
"We are extremely excited about the prospects of Bennetts Green," a company spokesperson said. "When we were presented an opportunity for a store in what is expected to be the new homemaker destination for the region, we jumped at it."
Spotlight and Anaconda will relocate from Newcastle West, but recently employed extra staff at those sites which they hope to transition to the Bennetts Green stores.
The Newcastle and Lake Macquarie unemployed rate dropped to 9.7 per cent in July, down from 11.1 per cent a month earlier which was the highest level since 2003. The number of people classed as unemployed fell from a record 21,500 in June to 19,000 in July as some businesses began rehiring.
Across the Hunter, an estimated 40,800 people lost work between March and June, but the latest ABS data suggested 5100 of these jobs were restored in July.