{"id":245390,"date":"2019-10-02T19:01:14","date_gmt":"2019-10-02T09:01:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=245390"},"modified":"2020-07-16T15:24:23","modified_gmt":"2020-07-16T05:24:23","slug":"strong-belief-in-south-burnett","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/10\/02\/strong-belief-in-south-burnett\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Strong Belief In South Burnett’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Paul\u00a0Laurentiussen … “We would not have bought it if we didn’t believe in the future of the South Burnett”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

October 2, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

The former Wide Bay Burnett Electricity Board building in Kingaroy, which has stood vacant for many years, is again buzzing with life.<\/p>\n

J.A. Carroll Solicitors shifted their 10 staff members into the building, opposite the peanut silos in Haly Street, on Monday.<\/p>\n

Owners Paul and Prim Laurentiussen showed off their new premises to southburnett.com.au<\/strong> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Paul said the reception area had been repainted, new telephone lines installed and the garden beds tidied up.<\/p>\n

But apart apart from that, the building was ready to move into as soon as they bought it.<\/p>\n

“Even all the data cabling was there,” Paul said.<\/p>\n

Two years ago, the South Burnett Regional Council had discussed buying the building but ultimately decided against it.<\/p>\n

After being on the market for several years, it was put up for auction in May but was passed in.<\/p>\n

Paul negotiated the purchase soon afterwards.<\/p>\n

“Essentially the reason we bought it was because we have a strong belief in the future of the region,” he said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“We have had the business for 10 years now and we anticipate it will continue to grow.<\/p>\n

“Our old premises had no more room. This is a perfect building for future expansion.<\/p>\n

“We would not have bought it if we didn’t believe in the future of the South Burnett.”<\/p>\n

Inside, there are three large office areas, a staff kitchen plus a large, secure (and fireproof) safe custody room in which to store documents.<\/p>\n

The office space is nearly twice the size of what they had at their old premises in King Street.<\/p>\n

J.A. Carroll Solicitors has been a part of the South Burnett community for more 88 years.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The firm was founded by Jack Carroll before he passed it on to his son, Denis.<\/p>\n

Paul and Prim bought it in 2009.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are a local firm proud to be employing local people,” Paul said.<\/p>\n

“All of our employees lived in the South Burnett at the time of their employment, so we believe in and value developing the skills of local people.<\/p>\n

“We employ three solicitors and are proud to have a female solicitor with our firm.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have always employed people living in the South Burnett and then provide the training for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

The move also coincides with a decision to make a slight change to the firm’s trading name.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

“J.A. Carroll & Son, Solicitors” is now simply “J.A. Carroll Solicitors”.<\/p>\n

Paul said he also wanted to single out PCA (Bega) for a big thank you.<\/p>\n

\u201cParking is limited out the front of the building and we understand their workers need to access this as well,” Paul said.<\/p>\n

“PCA asked their staff to consider the new business asked them not to park in front of the building.<\/p>\n

“We did not approach them, they just did it. I think that shows fantastic community spirit and a desire to support business in the South Burnett.”<\/p>\n

J.A. Carroll also maintains an office at 75 Drayton Street, Nanango, which is manned daily.<\/p>\n

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