Major retailer Aldi sets its sights on Moonee Beach shopping centre

There are new plans to bring an Aldi store into the mix at a Northern Beaches suburb.

Moonee Marketplace’s newest owner, Western Australian property fund manager Primewest, has proposed new plans to bring an Aldi store into the mix.

A development application has been lodged with Coffs Harbour City Council on behalf of the company to undertake a reconfiguration of the shopping centre, consolidating existing tenancies to make way for the German supermarket chain.

The works are estimated to cost $2.5m and would see the mini-major tenancies of Best & Less, a vacant store, and the centre management office merged.

Best & Less and an empty tenancy will make way for a an Aldi store, according to the DA.

The growing community of Moonee Beach would be home to both a Coles and an Aldi if the plans are approved. It would be the first Aldi on the Northern Beaches, joining the chain’s existing two Coffs Coast stores at Park Beach Plaza and Toormina.

It comes at the same time a development application has been lodged by fast food giant Domino’s to open a store at nearby Northern Beaches suburb Woolgoolga.

Coffs Central owners Gowings Bros sold Moonee Marketplace to Primewest in late 2019 for a price of $30.5m. It was a significant capital gain for Gowings and its shareholders, with the neighbourhood shopping centre originally being purchased for $13.2m in 2010.

While Gowings pocketed a profit of $12.3m in the deal, they invested in numerous upgrades to the shopping centre over its almost decade long ownership.

Gowings invested in numerous upgrades to Moonee Marketplace during its ownership.

Primewest is one of Perth’s biggest property investors and was co-founded by John Bond, the son of high profile businessman, the late Alan Bond.

The plans to open a third Aldi on the Coffs Coast comes as the supermarket giant on Monday announced its commitment of zero waste to landfill by 2025, a move which was met with praise by Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley who hoped it would have a “flow on effect” across the supply chain.

As part of this, Aldi has an initial goal to achieve zero food waste by 2023 through strategies including doubling its food donations, expanding its food rescue program to reuse food for animals if not suitable for human consumption.

The development application lodged on behalf of Primewest is currently under review by Council.