Melbourne-based construction company Uno Projex is promising a “ground-breaking industrial project” on Industrial Rd, Shepparton, the fledgling company’s first development site.
Oliva Ross founded Uno Projex as her bold step away from her family’s firm, Rossiter Constructions.
“I’ve got photos of me on a construction site at the age of six or eight, and that was how we grew up. Getting our hands dirty and learning the business from the ground up,” she said.
“I can do the dress-up version, the corporate version, but you have to go back to what the core of the business is.
“I’d like to think we’re a very honest construction business, and we deliver an honest product.”
Miss Ross said Uno Projex has bought the nine-hectare site on Industrial Rd and has council approval for a development that will attract a range of businesses.
“I am excited to bring Uno Projex to Shepparton with our first industrial project,” she said.
“This development will be a welcome addition to the industrial market in the Goulburn Valley area.
“We have conceived a space that caters to a diverse range of uses, from commercial, fabrication, retail, and services to residential and domestic storage opportunities.”
Miss Ross said the company expects to start pre-selling in about a month,
With “uno” meaning “one” in Italian, Ms Ross said it reflected her ambition to be number one in the business.
“I want to be number one in the development space and I want to be known for producing a premium product and recognised as someone who develops a complete project,” she said.
As a member of the Building and Construction Foundation board, which aims to make the industry open and accessible for everyone to succeed in, Miss Ross hopes to play her part in helping it evolve into a more diverse environment.
“It’s not just women, it’s young men as well from different backgrounds and people with a disability,” she said.
“I think the industry is changing and for the better. It’s really beautiful to see now on construction sites people from a variety of walks of life.”
Miss Ross also sees her company doing more business in Shepparton in the future.
“I’m looking for other projects in the Shepparton space,” she said.
“We’re Melbourne-based, but the reason I went to Shepparton was the Shepparton market and the real opportunity for growth.”