Umina Foodtown site: Arthur Laundy turns sod on new Lone Pine Plaza shopping centre

It’s been in the pipeline for over 10 years and millionaire pub baron Arthur Laundy was all smiles in Umina today to finally turn sod on the Lone Pine Plaza.

Millionaire pub baron Arthur Laundy’s vision for a shopping centre in Umina Beach is now a reality.

The old Foodtown site is no longer as the sod was turned on Mr Laundy’s $10m Lone Pine Plaza development.

Mr Laundy, along with developers Pluim Group and representatives from IGA and the community, held a ceremony at the Ocean Beach Road site on Monday.

“It has been a long long journey,” Mr Laundy said.

Arthur Laundy jumps in the excavator to turn the sod on the new Lone Pine Plaza in Umina Beach.

Arthur Laundy and Pluim Group director Scott Allen in Umina Beach.

“I hope you are happy that at last we have started. The final result I know you will be happy with. We know we are doing something special and something you will appreciate.”

Mr Laundy has had visions of turning the site into a modern shopping complex for more than 10 years.

In August 2019, Mr Laundy revealed his fury over the ongoing hold ups with the development.

Mr Laundy was at a crossroads with the former Gosford council and then Central Coast Council over the purchase of a laneway which ran through the site. The issue was eventually sorted in early 2020 when councillors voted to sell Mr Laundy the laneway land for an undisclosed price.

Artists impression on the plans.

“We had plans in initially 10 years ago … and then a little while later while we were trying to get organised with this bloody silly road over here … and during that time the place burnt down,” he said.

“We were trying to do something good for the area, something good for the community.

“It caused a lot of headaches but it does appear that we are about to start the building.”

He described the turning of the sod as “momentous” before climbing into the excavator and using a screw pile to cut through the dirt.

Aerial impression of the shopping complex.

Pluim Group director Scott Allen said the modern shopping complex would include three buildings for a mix of 12 retailers, anchor tenants IGA and Cellarbrations, a medical centre, space for outdoor dining and a carpark at the front with 103 spaces.

The plans also include a bus bay and pedestrian crossing on Ocean Beach Rd.

Pluim Group, based on the coast, have been tasked with the development by Laundy Hotels.

“It’s such a good service for the community, you are in and out and you will easily be able to find a park,” Mr Allen said.

Foodtown in Umina Beach was demolished in late 2020. Picture: Sue Graham

Gosford state Labor MP Liesl Tesch thanked Mr Laundy for his patience with council to get the development over the line.

She said he must love the area having recently bought the Bay View Hotel in Woy Woy.

Pluim Group demolished the old Foodtown shopping centre in January 2020 much to the relief of local residents who had been calling for action at the site.

It was previously an unused, fenced off eyesore after fire ripped through the shopping complex in early 2019.

The development, valued at $10-12 million, is expected to generate 500 jobs over the next year with construction planned to be completed by late 2022.