Bigger and better in Bilo with launch of new Retail and Community Hub

Big things are happening in Biloela, with the grand opening of a new multi-million-dollar Retail and Community Hub on 27 June. The redevelopment of the St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland site will deliver improved services and support to a growing community.

The 1,899 square-metre Dawson Highway site includes a community food pantry, family support spaces and volunteer facilities, in response to increasing local demand for support, as well as a fresh new-look Vinnies Shop for thrifty locals and visitors alike.

The new Community Hub has been delivered with $5.89 million in funding through the Queensland Government.

St Vincent de Paul Society State President (and Central Queensland resident), Peter Dougherty, said the redevelopment represented an important investment in regional Queensland.

“The completion of this redevelopment will allow us to deliver more for Biloela – more access to support services for people in need, more facilities to strengthen social connections and more opportunities for the Society to respond to rising cost-of-living pressures impacting local families and individuals,” Mr Dougherty said.

“In the last financial year, we delivered support to more than 600 Biloela locals experiencing hardships, including those at risk of experiencing homelessness.

“Demand is continuing to grow, and the new Hub will help us meet that rising demand.

“The new site will include additional spaces for family support, strengthening local families through times of hardship and providing a safe and respectful place to help parents and children thrive.

“We are very grateful for the funding support from the State Government to bring this project to life for Biloela.”

General Manager – Operations, Drew Eide, said the new-look Vinnies shop would serve the community well, as Biloela was proving itself quite the regional op-shop hot spot.

“In the last financial year, we had almost 30,000 purchases at our old Biloela shop – a 76 per cent increase since 2020,” Mr Eide said.

“We’re excited to deliver a bigger, fresher op-shopping experience for the region, with new capacity to increase the number of our volunteers by 54 per cent.

“Best of all, the proceeds from our shop sales stay in the local region and help resource our community support.”

Bryson Head, Member for Callide, said the refurbishment was a vital investment into the Banana Shire, and the State Government was proud to work with the St Vincent de Paul Society to build better futures for regional Queensland.

“These new facilities will strengthen the region’s ability to respond to cost-of-living pressures and disadvantage while bringing a bigger and better op-shopping experience to the region,” Mr. Head said.

“We are proud to help deliver this new Hub, which will benefit the local community for decades to come.

“These facilities will be run by locals, for locals, with shop proceeds also staying in the local community to help those in need.”

Mr Head, representing Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie, will officially open the new Community Hub at a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 12.30pm on 27 June.

Over 60 Society volunteers currently donate their time in Biloela, and this number is expected to grow with the launch of the new facility.