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Bella Build

FUEL STATION AND STORE NEW HORIZONS

Flagship Commercial Building Project in Alkimos

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When X Convenience started making plans to expand into Western Australian, one particular building company stood out as a logical partner to help see the project through to fruition.

Also based in South Australia, Bella Build & Design already had extensive experience constructing fuel stations and convenience stores and, just as importantly, had developed a close professional relationship with X Convenience.

So their well-established partnership was guaranteed to produce another development success when Ecorp Project Management initiated its own plans to develop a site the company owned in Alkimos for a new commercial project. It was X Convenience’s first fuel station and store in Western Australia, and Ecorp commissioned Bella Build & Design to undertake the construction project.

Prominent and central to the Alkimos town centre, the building and site layout were orientated to engage most effectively with The Gateway local shopping precinct and social hub, while also providing convenient traffic access on Marmion Avenue.

Developed by Ecorp, The Gateway project consists of seven development stages incorporating medical, childcare and child play centres, an IGA and speciality shops, a food and restaurant precinct, a gymnasium and a tavern.

Within the overall precinct, X Convenience now provides clients with both fuel and a diverse and extensive range of retail products.

THE TEAM

Photos Gary Boulos

Phone: 9277 4109 www.bbd.com.au

Phone: 9322 5144 www.hodgecollardpreston.com

Vibrant and Highly Functional Aesthetic The design followed a standard aesthetic template established generically in the retail company’s South Australian stores. These are usually quite elaborately designed, extending over two storeys, but the Alkimos store layout was limited to a certain extent.

The site had originally been earmarked for a different-brand fuel station, with the design and material selection being completed by architects Hodge Collard Preston.

According to Bella Build & Design operations manager Tristan Burton, this meant they had to stay true to the same parameters specified for the initial development approval. Nevertheless, he said, the final project was an attractive and important addition to The Gateway precinct, and the use of quality materials and a varied internal and external palette were just some of the key facets that contributed to its distinctive vibrancy.

With no pre-requirements stipulated by the council to create an area on the back wall for public art work, the developers – in conjunction with Ecorp – commissioned Paint Storm to complete the mural.

As with all building projects being undertaken in the current era, COVID had an impact but in this case the timing was fortuitous for Bella Build & Design. As work started at the back-end of 2020, the project avoided the increasingly complicated effects of the burgeoning Western Australia construction boom. The availability of certain trades was affected, noted Tristan, but Bella Build & Design has excellent and long-standing relationships within the industry, so any repercussions and delays were kept to a minimum.

In the end, there were no major issues (apart from hard excavation at the start to remove the area’s customary limestone base), work progressed in a fairly straightforward fashion, and the project was completed in an impressive 14 weeks.

• Commercial • Domestic • Medical Maintenance • Authorised Backflow Prevention • 24/7 Emergency Call Out Services

We are proud to be associated with Bella Build & Design working jointly on the X Convenience Store –and Puma Fuel, Alkimos. Snap Plumbing specialises in commercial, gas, medical maintenance, shutdown works, asset management, residential, hospitals, child and aged care facilities. We have experience in the construction of multi storey commercial and large scale residential unit developments, service stations and fast food outlets. Snap Plumbing are Western Australian owned, authorised backflow prevention specialists. We are Members of the Master Plumbers Association WA and the Institute of Hospital Engineers Australia (IHEA).

Email: craig@snapplumbing.net P: 1300 954 688 M: 0408 748 800 Craig 9/71 Truganina Rd, Malaga WA 6090 www.snapplumbing.com.au

Commitment to Quality Construction A family-owned and South Australian-based construction and development company, operating in its home state as well as in Western Australia, Bella Build & Design’s core beliefs have remained unchanged over the past 15 years.

These are highlighted by a commitment to providing quality construction and building services in commercial and residential areas, and meeting and exceeding demanding budgets and deadlines.

The team has established an excellent reputation in the industry for building with confidence, honesty and integrity, while also enhancing trust and developing long-term relationships with customers – including X Convenience.

The company’s original headquarters remains in Adelaide, and a second base was opened in Perth six years ago. Now solidly established across both states, Bella Build & Design’s repeat business is key to its hugely successful business model. “At Bella Build & Design we support the success of our customers and the businesses that contribute to our success.”

Phone: 08 9322 5144 Email: admin@hcparch.com

Web: www.hodgecollardpreston.com

Reg - PC100920

2020 Master Painters Award winning Commercial Contractor Quality without compromise

Specialist Commercial Developers Ecorp Project Management is a boutique project management company that primarily specialises in developing retail commercial property. Ecorp strives to form strong relationships with project stakeholders to ensure that all parties benefit from their involvement with the development.

Family-Orientated Retailers A 100 per cent family-owned business established in 2006, X Convenience’s passion for the industry dates to two decades ago, when the company’s origins were as driveway attendants, before eventually moving on to set up the X Convenience chain.

The network has since grown to include 40 service stations across South Australia and Western Australia, with ongoing plans for further growth.

Two of these new projects also involve Bella Build & Design as the builders (albeit with different developers) for fuel stations and convenience stores in Erskine (work began in May) and in Geraldton (due to start in October, pending final official approvals).

Book Online: instantwaste.com.au

According to X Convenience, the company’s mission is “to provide every customer who visits our stores with the highest level of customer service at every location every time. We invite all customers to come and experience our barista-made coffee as well as our fresh food section, which is prepared in our very own kitchen and delivered daily to all our stores. X marks the spot when looking for affordable prices and excellent customer service.” Electrical Systems One of the other main associates working on the Alkimos fuel station and convenience store was Lovegrove Electrical. The company performed critical roles within the project, completing the full fuel system, including the supply and installation of dispenser tanks and pumps, as well as general electrical work.

PANEL BRACE HIRE

LIFTING & BRACING DESIGN

Phone: (08) 9439 6405

Structural Engineering Civil Engineering m: +61 407 343 305 e: jude@jcce.com.au w: www.jcce.com.au

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