Anger over Bunnings’ plan to redevelop ex-Panorama TAFE site into new store

HARDWARE giant Bunnings has bought the former Panorama TAFE site on Goodwood Rd, and plans to build a new store — but community groups are highly frustrated.

HARDWARE giant Bunnings has bought the former Panorama TAFE site on Goodwood Rd.

Bunnings’ chief operating officer Peter Davis told the Mitcham & Hills Messenger that a new store planned for the 3.4ha site would create more than 190 permanent jobs and another 340 during construction.

“Bunnings is pleased to confirm we are in the early stages of acquiring and planning the development of a new store in Panorama,” Mr Davis said.

Panorama Clapham Community Group spokesman Neil Baron said the plans had the potential to make the area’s traffic problems even worse.

The group has pushed for the Goodwood, Springbank and Daws roads intersection to be realigned and Mr Baron said the new Bunnings made the need even more urgent.

“That corner is deadly as far as traffic goes,” he said.

“We are not opposed to the development but you really have to consider traffic management.

“A Bunnings store is only going to exacerbate the problem and could mean more people will use the back roads.

“How are trucks going to get access onto the site? How will people get in if they are coming from the south?

“A lot of traffic issues in this area haven’t been resolved and even though it’s good a new business is coming into the area and more jobs will be created, how are they going to manage traffic?

“Because they are not managing it now.”

Panorama, O’Halloran Hill and Marleston TAFEs closed in December to form the Tonsley Park TAFE at the former Mitsubishi factory.

The Treasury and Finance Department, which is responsible for the TAFE site sales, refused to provide a person to interview, but spokeswoman Lucy Hood wrote in a statement the sale process was being finalised.

She did not answer questions on whether the site — marked as education land — had been rezoned and why Bunnings was selected as the preferred buyer.

Mr Davis would not disclose the purchase price or details of the new store.