‘Emergency state’: Flood-smashed major shopping centre, 140 retailers closed for 6-8 months
One of Brisbane’s biggest shopping centres - Toombul - could be shut for up to eight months because of flood damage, potentially sending 140 traders to the wall and causing chaos for shoppers.
North
Don't miss out on the headlines from North. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Brisbane shopping centre devastated by February’s floods could take six to eight months to fully reopen, forcing many small traders to the wall and sparking chaos for shoppers.
The ground level of Toombul Shopping Centre in Brisbane’s inner north flooded to waist height and the underground carpark was completely inundated.
The centre, which has 140 tenants, an eight screen Event cinema, Target, Kmart, Coles and Aldi supermarkets, was completely fenced off Friday (March 11).
Dozens of tradies’ vehicles and many other workers’ cars were parked on site as urgent efforts were made to assess the extent of the damage.
A spokeswoman for owner Mirvac, which bought the centre in 2016, said the building was in an “emergency state’’ but structural engineers were today allowing small groups of retailers to be escorted back to their shops to remove stocks and inspect.
Local federal Labor MP, Anika Wells, said it was a disaster for shop workers, traders and the community who now had to finds other places to shop.
“Mirvac has confirmed nothing but we have been told by workers that it could be closed for 24 to 32 weeks, depending on where in the centre stores are and the level of damage,’’ Ms Well said.
“Already we’re seeing surrounding stores inundated with (former) Toombul customers such as Zambreros.
“Some of the shop owners will lose everything, they can’t afford to be closed for that long.
“Two of the takeaway food places upstairs were uninsured because they had not been there for long and some others had no insurance because they couldn’t afford it.’
’
She said Coles and Aldi workers had told her they would be redeployed to other stores.
The local commercial leasing market is very tight with few vacant shops, higher rents than at Toombul and landlords who often want tenants to sign up for five years.
“No one is going to do that if all you want to do is wait for Toombul to reopen,’’ she said.
Woolworths at Nudgee and Nundah, and Lutwyche Shopping Centre, are all already much busier than normal due to Toombul customers now shopping there.
Even residents who live near the giant Westfield Chermside often prefer to shop at Toombul because it is smaller and easier to get a park.
The underground carpark, which backs on to a floodprone waterway, frequently floods however this event was one of the worst in the centre’s 55-year history.
Some locals in the surrounding suburbs reported more than 900mm in their rain gauges.
A number of nearby businesses, such as York Street Espresso which offered to take on out-of-work baristas, have reached out to help.
Many locals also volunteered to clean up last week.
Toombul Family Dental was one of the hardest hit, with very expensive equipment and fittings needing to be replaced due to water damage and sewage contamination.
It will meanwhile fast track plans to open an Everton Park clinic and is presently referring patients with urgent issues to other dentists such as Nundah Village Dental.
Mirvac senior asset manager Melanie Hodge would not confirm how long the shopping precinct would be out of action.
“Toombul would like to thank the entire community for the outreach of support and offers to help with the clean-up over the past week,” she said in a statement posted on social media.
“At this stage, I can confirm the centre and car park are closed and will remain that way for some time.
“Our specialist consultants have assessed the building and the initial assessment shows that the inundation has caused extensive damage.
“This is the worst flood we have seen at Toombul and the impact is devastating, not only for us, but for all of our retailers, many of whom are small business owners.
“The structural engineer, electrical, fire and hygienist specialists have been working around the clock to assess and make safe the building, so all of our tenants can gain access to assess their individual businesses.
“Our priority is now working with and supporting all our retailers.’’
Toombul was the largest shopping centre on Brisbane’s northside until Westfield Chermside’s redevelopment in 1999-2000.
Mirvac opened a revamped upstairs section in 2019 which included a 4500sqm dining precinct anchored by an Archie Brothers and a dozen new food outlets.
The Fashion mall, Kmart Mall, food court and fresh food market were upgraded at the same time.
SEQ housing shake-up as new property giant rises
A property giant is emerging after its latest takeover was approved, paving the way for the conglomerate to become the largest housing developer in southeast Queensland.
Man sought psych help in hours before deadly hammer attack on own mum
A mentally ill man who killed his mother in a violent attack in her own home will be eligible for parole in 2.5 years, a court hearing he was preoccupied with ‘end of days perceptions’.