Construction on the new headquarters of discount department chain Target Australia has commenced.

The retailer confirmed last month that it is moving its national headquarters to Williams Landing in west Melbourne after signing a 10-year lease with property firm Cedar Woods.

The agreement is for a 12,600sqm office building over eight levels and will cater for 850 employees in the building located adjacent to Williams Landing train station.

The treasurer of Victoria and member for Werribee, Tim Pallas MP, were at the sod turning ceremony, as well as Wyndham City Council mayor, Cr Henry Barlow, Cedar Woods’ chief operating officer Nathan Blackburne and project director Lloyd Collins.

The building will be constructed by Hacer Group at a cost of $37 million plus GST, with construction scheduled to be underway next month and completion expected by the end of 2018.

“We are excited that Williams Landing was chosen to be the new home of Target Australia’s national headquarters,” Blackburne said. “The thriving town centre environment with speciality shops, cafes, restaurants and numerous housing options, makes it an ideal location for large companies and their staff.”

“Target’s relocation will bolster economic growth, support job creation, complement housing development and benefit existing local businesses – and that’s good news for everyone,” Pallas said as he spoke during the ceremony.

The suburb is located at the gateway to the booming Melbourne western corridor and the development is designated as a Priority Development Zone by the Victorian Government.

According to economists MacroPlan Dimasi, around 400,000 people are expected to call the region home, and employment growth is set to exceed 13,000 jobs, by 2031.

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