$80m retail hub

By Melissa Grant
AN $80 million retail hub featuring Big W, Woolworths supermarket and underground car parking is on its way to Pakenham.
The development, pegged to open within two years, is expected to create 600 jobs and establish Pakenham as a major service centre out of Melbourne.
It will also help solve the town’s parking woes, with an additional 869 car spaces planned for the site.
There are also plans for a food court and several specialty shops.
Councillors voted unanimously at a special council meeting on Friday to notify the public of their intention to sell council-land bounded by John Street, Henry Street, Cook Drive and Treloar Lane.
The council will net $8 million from the sale of the land, plus $2.4 million for a car park licence.
Cardinia chief executive Garry McQuillan said it was a good result in the current economic climate.
He said the latest proposal for the site was the best put before the council in the last decade.
“The site has had a chequered past for the last 10 years,” he said. “It is fair to say there have been a number of attempts to get this site developed.”
Under a previous proposal, the council had hoped to extend the existing library, move Southern Health from its offices on the Princes Highway and relocate shire offices from Henty Way. However, those plans fell through in July 2004.
The council suffered another setback in August when Consolidated Properties withdrew its plans for a $40 million retail hub at the site. The company was set to pay $8.75 million for the land to develop the hub which was to feature a K-Mart, supermarket and roof top parking.
Central Ward councillor Brett Owen agreed the latest proposal was the best so far, saying he was particularly excited about the prospect of underground parking.
“Not even our neighbours (Casey) have that,” he said.
Mr McQuillan said the development would help position Pakenham has a service centre for Gippsland and the Bass Coast areas.
“One thing we lack in Pakenham is national retail shops and this will start that,” he said.
“One can only assume this will certainly consolidate Pakenham as a central hub to come shop.”
The library will be relocated to PB Ronald Reserve.
Cardinia mayor Bill Pearson told the Gazette construction on the retail hub could begin in as little as four months.
He said councillors were hopeful the project would be complete in two years.
Cr Pearson said the council was examining the possibility of building an access road through the Pakenham Racecourse.
“We’re looking to get an outlet road through to the new (retail) development off Racecourse Road,” he said.
“It (road) would come out at the old hall on Henry Street. If the racecourse gets the go-ahead to move to Tynong it will happen sooner rather than later.”
Once the heads of agreement has been signed, the council will advertise its intentions and invite public submissions from the community over a four-week timeframe.