Kaufland targeting Seaford Meadows in Adelaide's south for potential new store
There’s good and bad news for development in Adelaide’s south — German retail giant Kaufland is actively looking to expand in the area, but a proposed $50 million homemaker centre has been scrapped.
German retail giant Kaufland is actively looking to expand south of Adelaide — but a proposed $50 million homemaker centre in the same area has been scrapped.
The Advertiser can reveal that the supermarket company is investigating a potential site opposite the Bunnings Warehouse on Seaford Rd, Seaford Meadows.
Kaufland has made multiple approaches to landowners to potentially buy their properties, bordered by McMillan and Railway roads.
The site is presently occupied by a mix of warehouses, mechanics, retail outlets and service yards.
The Advertiser spoke to three property owners about Kaufland’s interest. One said he was bound by a nondisclosure agreement and another declined to comment.
Another property owner said he was yet to sign any agreement with Kaufland.
“I believe there is a massive gap between what I want and what they’re prepared to give (price-wise),” he said.
A Kaufland spokesoman said: “We are currently exploring different possible sites and opportunities where we can provide high quality, great service and amazing value to our future customers in South Australia”.
It would be Kaufland’s first location in Adelaide’s south.
The company is building its first store on a 23,700sq m site at Prospect and is readying demolition of the former Le Cornu’s site at Forestville for a second store.
The state planning commission is still assessing plans for a third store at Munno Para.
The company expects to employ 100 staff at each location.
The Advertiser has sought comment from Kaufland about its potential Seaford Meadows site but is yet to receive a response.
It comes as The Advertiser can reveal a planned 31,000sq m homemaker centre to the immediate west of the proposed Kaufland site will not go ahead.
That project was being spearheaded by businessman and pub operator Elli Cakar and his company Living Australia Pty Ltd, who The Advertiser revealed last week had been evicted from his Unley offices for failing to pay a $42,000 rent bill.
His separate hospitality group Entertainment Venues Australia, which operated hotels including the Royal Terrace Hotel and Glenelg Pier Hotel, was placed in liquidation with undisclosed debts.
Mr Cakar was negotiating with nine landowners to buy their land pending final development approval for the homemaker property.
But a property owner said sales agreements had lapsed last month and that the project was not going ahead.
Leasing agent Rob Williamson of Savills confirmed the project was dead.
“It never really got off the ground,’ he said.
Onkaparinga Council this week approved revised plans for a $215 million Hickinbotham Group housing development at Seaford Meadows.