By CASEY NEILL
CRUSHER by name, crusher by nature – a Dandenong boat business is motoring towards success.
Federal Small Business Minister Bruce Billson on Thursday 27 August toured Bar Crusher Boats in Dandenong South with Boating Industry Association of Victoria (BIAV) members.
The recreational boating industry supplier’s managing director Peter Cleland said Mr Billson wanted to look at small to medium enterprises that were growing.
“With the pressure on the automotive industry, he’s looking to get a feel for what industries might be growth opportunities,” he said.
“We’ve got a good growth story.
“It’s great for our staff and us to have somebody like the federal small business minister visiting our premises.
“It demonstrates that we’re climbing the opportunity ladder.”
The family-owned business has been running for 15 years, the past 10 or so in Dandenong South.
“Our five-year plan is to double the size of the business and potentially access export opportunities,” he said.
“It’s ambitious – but we like to be ambitious.”
Mr Cleland and the minister discussed growth constraints and how governments could assist.
“One of the opportunities is to grow infrastructure to improve access to the waterways,” he said.
“There was also discussion about the great resources in Westernport and Port Phillip Bay.
“There needs to be a strategy and policy and funding to develop that resource for its economic value.”
Mr Cleland said Bar Crusher Boats used design technology to build and manufacture products that performed well and satisfied customer needs.
BIAV chief executive Steven Potts said that with Melbourne’s population set to double, current bay use would increase considerably.
“With a lack of green space, the community in rapidly growing areas will turn towards the use of blue space on the water,” he said.
“Boating holidays are becoming more desirable to boat owners thanks to cheaper petrol prices, better trailers, larger trailable boats and rising inland waters.”
Mr Potts said the Victorian boating industry employed 17,700 people full-time and contributed $4.5 billion to the Victorian economy each year.
Across the state there are 268,336 marine licence holders and 172,000 registered boats.
