The developer of Sovereign Hills, Lewis Land Group, awarded the tender to Commercial Project Group (CPG).

The $18.6 million stage will create employment for up to 200 contractors and tradespeople.

Lewis Land Group head of development Michael Long said they were excited to award the contract to CPG as a local contractor within the Hastings.

“We are confident they will be highly suitable to deliver a really special project here for our master planned community,” he said.

Mr Long said Sovereign Hills was delivering on its promise to have a convenience shopping precinct within the master planned community.

He said another benefit of awarding the tender to CPG was the local jobs it would create.

CPG director Chris Walsh said the project was a perfect size for CPG.

“It will provide a backbone for our company turnover for the next 12 months and for a lot of the local trades,” he said.

“We are concentrating on awarding trade contracts to local tradesmen, where possible.

“It’s not just exciting for CPG, it’s exciting for local trades.”

Mayor Peta Pinson said it was marvellous for a local and experienced firm to be given the opportunity to build stage one of Sovereign Place.

She said our already booming economy was going to be assured of more local jobs with the spins-offs to ripple through the broader community.

CPG is no stranger to Sovereign Hills as the company constructed St Joseph’s Regional College in the Sovereign Hills community a decade ago.

The town centre, named Sovereign place, is located at the junction of John Oxley Drive and Chancellors Drive.

Stage one, which covers 5,600 square metres, will include an IGA supermarket, chemist, medical, convenience retail and restaurants, surrounded by landscaped areas.

CPG will start on site this week with completion of stage one anticipated before the end of 2019.

The town centre will grow in stages to more than 25,000 square metres.

What else is making news?

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.