495 Fourth Ave Austral: Woolworths proposed for southwest Sydney

Woolworths has made a fresh bid for a multimillion-dollar shopping centre in the heart of one of the fastest growing suburbs in Sydney’s southwest.

Artist impressions of the proposed Woolworths shopping centre at 495 Fourth Ave, Austral.

Woolworths has made a fresh new bid for a multimillion-dollar shopping centre in the heart of one of the fastest growing suburbs in Sydney’s southwest, where it already has plans for a supermarket.

The supermarket giant has lodged plans with Liverpool Council for a $62m supermarket, alongside a public piazza, BWS liquor shop and a string of speciality retailers at 495 Fourth Ave, Austral.

If approved, the three-storey development would have a 3540sq m space dedicated to the Woolworths supermarket and an additional 1838sq m for retail and 1727sq m for commercial spaces.

The lower ground floor would include the public square accessed via a pedestrian link alongside two retail tenancies, while the upper ground floor would be dedicated to the supermarket and BWS.

A public square is part of the Woolies proposal.

A total of 257 carparking spaces including four accessible, four electric vehicle charging spaces and four direct-to-boot spots will be available in the basement parking.

The proposed operation hours include 6am to midnight Monday to Friday for the centre and Woolworths, while the BWS will open from 8am to 9pm Monday to Saturday and 9am to 8pm on Sundays.

The commercial and retail tenancies, which could include a potential medical centre, office spaces and veterinary hospital, will open from 6am to midnight seven days a week.

Planners for the development state the supermarket would provide “access to shopping, employment and services” for the high-growth area which is expected to undergo a “significant transformation” over the next decade.

The transformation includes the highly anticipated Leppington Town Centre which is expected to transform the suburb into a hybrid 10-minute neighbourhood featuring a health and education hub and towers between 12 and 28 storeys.

Woolworths will expand its footprint in Austral with a second supermarket in the pipeline at Fourth Ave.

“The proposed development will meet the objective of the zone through the provision of a high-quality development which offers a variety of uses to meet the needs of the community, including those who live and work in the surrounding neighbourhood,” planners stated.

The project come after Woolworths also lodged plans last year to build another $35m shopping centre, including a supermarket and BWS at 260 Eighth Ave, Austral – less than four kilometres from the Fourth Ave proposal.

A Woolworths spokesman previously told this masthead the retail giant was excited to deliver a high quality retail development at Austral.

“We believe our plans will contribute positively to Austral, creating hundreds of new jobs and providing a wider range of fresh produce, grocery and household items for the community,” he said.

“We’re working very closely with Liverpool Council and look forward to receiving feedback on our proposal from local residents over the coming months.”