Woolworths to anchor Armstrong Creek development in town centre that is already home to Coles

The supermarket giants are set to have a stranglehold in the town centre of a fast-growing south Geelong suburb under plans the developer hopes will be fast-tracked by the state government.

This vacant land in Armstrong Creek will be the site of a shopping centre and almost 500 space car park. Picture: Alan Barber.

A new Woolworths supermarket will be the centrepiece of the next stage of development within the Armstrong Creek town centre.

The supermarket would form part of a new shopping centre located on land immediately east of the existing retail hub that has Coles as its anchor tenant.

Plans for the project are being considered by the Department of Transport and Planning after an earlier application from HMC Capital was knocked back.

Almost 200 ongoing full-time equivalent jobs are expected to be created by the development, according to an economic assessment that formed part of the application.

A further 250 indirect jobs are expected to flow into the broader economy.

“Many of the new jobs created on site will be filled by local residents, resulting in a direct positive benefit for the local economy,” the application stated.

“In particular, retail job opportunities are important for community members such as students (and) semi-retirees who are seeking to work close to home with flexible hours.”

Woolworths would be joined by a handful of smaller retail outlets and 1165sqm of office space.

Render of the proposed development at Armstrong Creek town centre. Source: HMC Capital.

Under the plans, the centre would be located at the northern end of the site, adjacent to the recently opened Biyal-a Armstrong Creek Library and a block of land that has been earmarked for a medical centre.

Some existing car parks in the northeastern corner of the site would need to make way for the development.

A car park with almost 500 spaces would fill the southern part of the site.

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

“As our customers increasingly look for convenient shopping locations, we’re excited about the opportunity to deliver a new Woolworths supermarket at Armstrong Creek to meet the fresh food and grocery needs of local residents,” a spokesman said.

The supermarket giant will also be the anchor tenant at the Charlemont Rise shopping centre, on the corner of Horseshoe Bend and Precinct roads, after the project received council approval earlier this year.

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

HMC has applied for approval via the state government’s development facilitation program, which allows for projects to be fast-tracked if they meet a certain criteria, in this case the cost of materials and labour exceeding $20m

Geelong council in February refused plans for the project on six grounds.

These included a failure to provide the required number of bicycle facilities and, more broadly, a failure to appropriately respond to requirements outlined in the decade-old Armstrong Creek Town Centre Precinct Structure Plan.

HMC said in its application that there was a significant undersupply of supermarket floorspace in the Armstrong Creek growth area, which is spread across 2500ha and expected to be home to 65,000 people once fully developed.

“Indeed, the supply gap is expected to widen considerably after 2026,” one document stated.

HMC declined to comment.

Originally published as Woolworths to anchor Armstrong Creek development in town centre that is already home to Coles