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Coles and Woolworths set for new stores in Belmont and Armstrong Creek

The approval of two projects in Geelong’s south – worth a total of $76m and featuring Coles and Woolworths stores – were fast-tracked by the state government.

Coles’ redevelopment plans for its High St store have been approved. Picture: Alan Barber.
Coles’ redevelopment plans for its High St store have been approved. Picture: Alan Barber.

Two developments collectively worth $76m will see supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths open new stores in Geelong’s south.

Coles has been granted a permit to knock down its existing outlet at 158-162 High St in Belmont, while HMC Capital’s plans to develop a new shopping centre within the Armstrong Creek town centre have also been approved.

Woolworths will be the anchor tenant of that development.

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It is unclear when construction work on the much anticipated $31m modernisation of Coles’ Belmont store will commence as the company is still working through delivery options.

“We’ll be sure to keep the community informed as plans for this redevelopment progress,” a spokesman said.

A Bi-Lo supermarket until 2006, the High St site will be completely transformed under plans that include an expanded shopping centre and basement carpark with 160 spaces.

Just 21 car spaces will remain above ground.

The Coles supermarket in High St is set for a major overhaul. Picture: Alan Barber.
The Coles supermarket in High St is set for a major overhaul. Picture: Alan Barber.

The existing supermarket, located less than 1km from another Coles outlet at Belmont Village, will be demolished and replaced with a larger store thanks to the removal of two carparking areas that face Church St.

An “art wall”, forecourt and canopy also form part of the project.

HMC’s $45m plans for Armstrong Creek have been approved after an earlier proposal was rejected on multiple grounds, including a failure to appropriately respond to the decade-old precinct structure plan.

Under the new plans, more than half of the 6800 sqm of retail floorspace will be occupied by Woolworths.

The centre will be located on land immediately east of the existing retail hub that features a Coles.

Woolworths already has outlets at Waurn Ponds and The Village Warralily – both located within 6km of the Armstrong Creek development.

The new centre is earmarked for the northern end of the town centre site, adjacent to the recently opened Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library and a vacant block of land set aside for a medical centre.

Armstrong Creek’s town centre is set to expand further. Picture: Alan Barber.
Armstrong Creek’s town centre is set to expand further. Picture: Alan Barber.

Vehicle access is proposed from two existing crossovers from Degraves St, and a proposed crossover located from Lagoon St to the south via a new roundabout.

An existing crossover from Exhibition St will be removed, while a car park with almost 500 spaces will fill the southern part of the site.

An economic assessment that formed part of the application estimated 450 direct and indirect jobs would be created by the development.

The Department of Transport and Planning fast-tracked approval for both projects under the state government’s development facilitation program.

The program provides an accelerated assessment pathway for eligible projects in a bid to inject investment into the economy sooner.

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Originally published as Coles and Woolworths set for new stores in Belmont and Armstrong Creek

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/geelong/coles-and-woolworths-set-for-new-stores-in-belmont-and-armstrong-creek/news-story/a7a90f30492c145fa6fc328e70353484