$350m Westfield Marion shopping centre revamp will start this month
IN the countdown to Christmas, one of Adelaide’s biggest shopping centres has began a $350-million, five-year redevelopment — that’s been in the pipeline for years.
IN the countdown to Christmas, one of Adelaide’s biggest shopping centres has began a $350-million, five-year redevelopment, that’s been in the pipeline for years.
A large section of the carpark has today been fenced off between Dan Murphy’s and the Woolworths entrance.
Work on the upgrades is expected to start this month.
The first part of the extension is a 3000sq m expansion of the centre’s western end to create a fresh food precinct, replacing 168 carparks.
It will include an Aldi supermarket and about 14 specialty retailers.
Marion Rheinland Bakery spokesman Wayne Mills said the new precinct would provide more competition and products for shoppers and more foot traffic for businesses.
“By having Woolworths, Coles and Aldi all at one end of the shopping centre can only be a positive thing,” Mr Mills said.
“You need to be part of it — if you don’t reach out and accept (Aldi) here ... they will go an put it in a new development away from the shopping centre,” Mr Mills said.
“But as a small operator, you’ve got to be on your game.
“Anybody that’s concerned about it shouldn’t be in business because it’s going to happen.”
Westfield did not respond to questions from the Guardian Messenger.
However it spruiked the project in an advertisement last week, which said fencing would be put up around the site this week. Shoppers could still access Woolworths and other shops nearby.
The ANZ bank would move to the centre’s services mall near Esprit and Sportsgirl.
The whole $350 million upgrade — to take five years — will add 65 shops across two levels, 10 restaurants and cafes and more than 1000 parking spaces.
Charlesworth Nuts part owner Mark Charlesworth said his business had been told the first part of the development would be finished in August.
“We believe that anything that increases foot traffic is a good thing,” Mr Charlesworth said.
“It’s quite a significant extension or redevelopment of that precinct so it will take a bit of time.
“All in all (it is) positive but a little bit of short term pain for long term gain.”
TELL US BELOW: What do you think of the plans for Westfield Marion — and the work starting now?