Bunnings remains tight-lipped on future of former Panorama TAFE site on Goodwood Rd

Hardware giant Bunnings is refusing to say what it plans to do with the old Panorama TAFE site, almost 12 months after it razed buildings on the land.

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Hardware giant Bunnings is refusing to say what it plans to do with the old Panorama TAFE site, almost 12 months after it razed buildings on the land.

In an statement last week, director of property Andrew Marks confirmed Bunnings still owned the land.

He said the company was “currently exploring other development opportunities for the site” and had “no immediate plans for the vacant land”.

That statement matched one from April last year, when Mr Marks said: “Once the (demolition) works are completed, we will be exploring other development opportunities for the site.”

A Bunnings spokeswoman last week refused to elaborate on what those “development opportunities” might be, if the company planned to sell the land or if it had been approached by any potential buyers.

Mitcham Council said it had not received any further applications from Bunnings since buildings at the Goodwood Rd site were demolished almost 12 months ago.

Andrew Marks (front) at the ground-breaking ceremony for a new Bunnings Warehouse in Glenorchy, Tasmania.

The council’s development panel knocked back plans for a $42 million Bunnings store at Panorama in August 2016, after it bought the land in 2014.

In December 2017, the company said it was no longer interested in the site and was instead looking to build in Edwardstown.

That warehouse, south of Castle Plaza and only 2km from the Panorama land, is currently under construction and due to open in April.

Panorama Clapham Community Group spokesman Neil Baron said it was “incumbent” on Bunnings to outline its plans for the site.

“Their initial intentions were good and they worked with the community,” said Mr Baron, who initially supported Bunnings’ proposal for the land.

“(But) they are letting the community down now if they don’t do something about that site.”

Bunnings still owns the old Panorama TAFE site, but will not say what its future holds.

Mr Baron attended a four-day workshop in October 2017 with landowners, community groups, the State Government, Mitcham Council and investors to determine a plan for the wider area, including the Bunnings land, but said nothing had happened since.

“There are tremendous opportunities here to be creative but we need some will and vision,” he said.

“We need to grab this opportunity to grow a vibrant, inner-city area otherwise we’re going to be left with a derelict wasteland forever.”