Construction starts on new Bellmere Woolworths, shopping precinct in Caboolture West

Construction has started on a new shopping centre, featuring another location for an Australian supermarket giant, with the project to help turn Caboolture West into a “regional city”.

An Australian supermarket giant will open a new location in Moreton Bay as part of a multimillion-dollar shopping development to feature 15 specialty shops and attract more than 300 jobs.

Construction has started on the new Bellmere Woolworths and shopping project at 110 Bellmere Road, Bellmere, which will include 5300 sqm of retail space.

The centre is scheduled to open in mid-2023 and generate 80 jobs during construction and around 230 jobs when the centre is open.

The development will also include dedicated community spaces, such as a children’s playground and greenery, along with around 250 car spaces for the centre.

To mark the start of construction a ceremonial sod turning, attended by Moreton Bay Regional Council (MBRC) Mayor Peter Flannery, State Labor MP for Morayfield Mark Ryan and MBRC Councillor Adam Hain, was held on August 1.

Michael Doust (Director Evolve Constructions, building partner), Chris Sheehan (State Development Manager, Woolworths Group), Councillor Adam Hain (MBRC Council), MBRC Mayor Peter Flannery and Morayfield MP Mark Ryan, turning sod on the new Bellmere Woolworths. Picture: Supplied

With the catchment population for the Bellmere centre at 11,300 people and the Caboolture West development on the way, Woolworths identified a need for a supermarket to service the growing area.

Woolworths lodged the development application with MBRC in June, 2020.

Woolworths’ state manager for property development Chris Sheehan said there has been strong interest in the specialty tenancies on site.

“We’re proud to be delivering this great community centre at Bellmere, to help support the future residential growth of this great neighbourhood suburb, located right on the doorstep of the much anticipated Caboolture West development precinct,’’ he said.

“We’re confident we can deliver a high quality and convenient shopping destination that will meet the needs of the growing and evolving Bellmere community.

“We look forward to welcoming customers into our centre in 2023.”

The roundabout on the corner of Bellmere Rd and River Dr will become a signalised intersection.

Four lanes will start from the bus stop at the south western corner of the site on Bellmere Rd to the junction of Piggott Rd.

An artist impression of the new Bellmere Woolworths and shopping centre. Picture: Supplied

Around 12 per cent of the site will be dedicated to green space and landscaping, which is more than 2300 sqm.

In the next 40 years Caboolture West is expected to develop to the size of a regional city, accommodating homes for around 70,000 people and access to 17,000 jobs.

The start of construction coincides with the release of the draft Caboolture West Interim Structure Plan, which details areas marked for conservation, as infrastructure or for new urban development.

Caboolture West will transform into a community with schools, environmental corridors, diverse and affordable housing, quality transport connections as well as four neighbourhood hubs and a local centre.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said there were already 16 major development applications in place, covering nearly half of the entire Caboolture West area.

“We’re releasing an interim structure plan now so developers can get on with building and we can get on with the planning needed to turn this into one of the state’s most liveable communities over the next three decades,’’ he said.

The final structure plan will be the comprehensive land use and infrastructure blueprint guiding development roll out in the suburb for the next 30 years.

The interim structure plan is expected to be in place for approximately 18 months and will be replaced by the final Caboolture West Structure Plan.

The interim plan will cover the area proposed for growth under existing major development applications.

Community members can have their say on the interim structure plan before August 26.