Expected to be open early in 2021, the new town centre is to include land for use as a community hub and a major precinct devoted to retailing.
The sale of a 26.5 hectare corner site located at the intersection of Plenty and Bridge Inn roads by Woolworths for $51.5 million to Land Capital recently sparked the announcement. The land had previously been in the hands of Woolworths for a decade.
By the end of next year, according to director of Land Capital Samir Latif, the town centre’s first stage is expected to be completed, but he added:
“There has been some delays in finalising the engineering drawings, as such we are hopeful the centre will be delivered (by the) first half of 2021.”
Included in the first stage is a medical centre, 32 specialty shops and a Woolworth’s store.
The recent announcement will also see the historical Mayfield Farm, which has been vandalised and fallen into disrepair, restored. Latif said the farm is to be transferred to council, at no cost, for community use.
In addition, council will receive 7900sqm of town square and building space adjacent to the shopping centre.
Planning permits, which often include a graphic design of the proposed development, have not yet been lodged for the final two town centre stages but it is believed council buildings, retail, resident and commercial projects are proposed.