Hinkler Central expansion scaled back: More car parks cut

The long-awaited expansion of Hinkler Central Shopping Centre has taken a dramatic turn, with a new and different plan lodged with Bundaberg Regional Council.

The new Hinkler expansion proposal is expected to remove 23 car parks.

A new plan for the delayed Hinkler Central Shopping Centre expansion has scaled back the development’s size but increased the number of car parks to be removed.
 Originally approved as a larger space for Hinkler Medical by Bundaberg Regional Council in November 2019, the project has yet to move forward, and the latest plans bring significant adjustments.

The top performing retail centre was sold in January 2024 for $107 million to Parkstone Funds Management in partnership with fund manager Centennial.

The 21,000sq m mall in Maryborough Street is anchored by Woolworths, Kmart and Coles and includes a further 65 retail and dining spaces.

Before that, it was sold by Mirvac for $110 million to QIC, a government-owned corporation.

The new development proposal focuses solely on retail space, with the health care services component gone.
Lodged with the council in early January 2025, the development’s footprint has been reduced from 1975sq m to 1858sq m —117sq m smaller than the initial proposal.

The original plans were focused on expanding Hinkler’s medical centre.

While the design tweaks aim to streamline the project, the number of car parks to be removed has climbed from 16 in the original approval to 23 under the new plan.
In addition to the car park changes, the proposal introduces a new loading bay accessible via Electra Street, reconfigures landscaping elements, and modifies plans for demolishing sections of the existing centre.
Despite these adjustments, consultants claim the updates will not significantly impact traffic flow or the development’s operational function.

The new Hinkler expansion proposal is expected to remove 23 car parks.

A Car Parking and Traffic Assessment submitted with the application supports the suitability of the revised plans, stating sufficient parking will still be available and traffic demands will remain manageable.

While the updated proposal maintains the original vision of modern retail spaces and reconfigured tenancies, the additional loss of parking spaces may raise eyebrows among shoppers and residents.

The proposal introduces a new loading bay accessible via Electra Street.

As the community awaits further details, attention is turning to how these changes will impact convenience and accessibility at one of Bundaberg’s key retail hubs.

The application is now under review.