Construction of a new shopping centre at Narangba could start by the end of the year

About 100 jobs will be created at a new shopping centre north of Brisbane, with the developer hopeful that Coles and McDonald’s will move in.

CONSTRUCTION of a controversial new shopping centre north of Brisbane could be under way by the end of the year, creating around 100 new jobs for locals.

After being held up in the courts for two years, Oxmar Properties has the green light to build the Narangba Heights Shopping Centre, at the corner of Sovereign Drv and Oakey Flat Rd.

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Oxmar’s owner Phil Murphy said tenants for the centre were still being finalised and once that was completed, they would look to employ a builder to begin construction.

Concept design for Oxmar Properties’ new shopping centre at Narangba Heights Estate.

Mr Murphy said the centrepiece of the project would likely be a Coles supermarket along with fast food options including a McDonald’s, a service station, cafes and other retail businesses.

“We’ve had a lot of community input into this,” Mr Murphy said.

“Most people very excited about Coles being there, and it’s amazing the amount of people really excited about a McDonald’s being there.”

He said they were also in discussion with Collins Foods, which operates Sizzler, KFC and Taco Bell in Australia.

A few dozen people lodged objections to the development citing concerns with traffic congestion and bushfires.

The site for Oxmar Properties’ new shopping centre at Narangba Heights Estate.

Some local residents though were supportive of the shopping centre going ahead, and the employment opportunities it would create for young people in the area.

Yet the centre may face some competition in the future as plans have been lodged for a new 4.8ha for a town centre just 2km north along Oakey Flat Rd — by Mr Murphy’s brother Tosh.

Tosh’s proposal was part of a much larger 1700-lot housing estate in Pine Valley, though it could be at least 10 years before that town centre ever gets off the ground, even if it was to get council approval.

Concept design for Oxmar Properties’ new shopping centre at Narangba Heights Estate.

It is not the first time the two brothers had been in competition for commercial opportunities in the area.

When Phil got approval for the Narangba Heights shopping centre in December 2017, Tosh appealed it in the Land and Environment Court, then submitted his own plans to the council for a shopping centre on neighbouring land, which was ultimately rejected.

The court process delayed the project for about two years, but the court eventually ruled in Phil’s favour and he could go ahead with the Narangba shopping centre.

Earthworks on the site have been completed and Mr Murphy was hopeful that construction would begin by the end of the year.