Since Woolworths announced two years ago its intention to break into the nation's $40 billion hardware sector, it has fought a running battle with Bunnings and other big-box retailers to secure suitable sites for its Masters stores. In May, it was reported Woolworths bid $20 million to win a hardware site at Windale, Lake Macquarie, beating a rival bid from Bunnings by $6 million. Woolworths has so far kept the number of sites it has purchased for its planned network of Masters hardware stores confidential, although it has disclosed having up to 90 parcels of land under contract or under some form of control.