Mount Duneed Village in Armstrong Estate to open in September

The project, which includes a swim centre and 90 homes, has suffered regular setbacks but is now on track to finish by spring this year.

Work continues on Mount Duneed Village as the developers eye off a September finish date. Picture: Brad Fleet

A $55m retail centre in the heart of a Villawood Properties estate off the Surf Coast Highway in Mount Duneed is expected to be up and running nearly a year later planned.

Mt Duneed Village, located on the corner of Unity and Sovereign Dr, was first announced in 2020.

It is being developed by Empire Properties in Villawood’s Armstrong estate, with construction scheduled for completion bythe end of August this year.

Facilities, which include an IGA supermarket, Chemist Warehouse and childcare, are due to open from September onwards.

The complex will also contain a swim centre, gym, hairdresser, Italian and Indian restaurants and a cafe.

Empire Properties’ managing director Tony Masalkovski said the “building, carparking, and landscaping” would be completedbefore spring.

He also said the swim school would open by “the end of July or August” after its glass walls were installed.

Artist's impression of the Mt Duneed Village swim centre. Picture: Supplied

In 2021, Villawood Properties and Empire Properties said a “lengthy council process” had stopped them from even starting construction.

The project has created 140 jobs — 60 in construction and 80 future roles once the centre is operational.

Aside from the retail centre, almost 100 dwellings are being built, including more than 40 apartments and 50 townhouses.

A report by KPMG this month revealed dwelling approvals in Geelong are at a five-year low despite the state government placing ambitious housing targets on the region.

There were only 3216 approvals in 2024, compared to 4654 in 2020.

The city has been slated to host a further 128,600 houses and apartments by 2050.

The project was first launched back in 2020. Picture: Brad Fleet

The precinct will feature an IGA supermarket as well as other amenities: Picture: Supplied

The report identified “high construction costs” and “challenging commercial feasibilities” as the reasons behind the drop off.

Despite this decline, there were still be 1800 construction jobs created in the area last year, taking the total number of tradies in the area to 22,500.

The industry is the second highest employer of people in the area behind healthcare.

Further west in Modewarre, a $500m sporting precinct that was also due to be built in 2024 is still years away.

Works on Construction on Cape Otway Road Australia (CORA) were meant to commence in late 2021 but so far there is nothing to show for it.

The developers say it will now be ready by 2029.

Originally published as Mount Duneed Village in Armstrong Estate to open in September