Chatswood: Woolworths store battle finally concludes
A decision has been handed down on plans for a new Woolworths store on the north shore - but not everyone is happy with the outcome.
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UPDATE
Construction work has started on Sydney’s newest Woolworths store in a move set to transform an industrial zone on the north shore.
Development works for the new $30 million supermarket in Chatswood kicked off on Wednesday after the plans for the Smith St site were given the green light by Willoughby Council earlier this year.
Woolworths said the new store will include a main supermarket, along with specialty shops that will be leased to small businesses, online drive-through services, grocery pick-up facilities, a BWS outlet, and 205 carparks.
The project is described as becoming a “new neighbourhood shopping centre” in East Chatswood – an area traditionally dominated by industrial uses.
The works come after a lengthy seven-year development process that began in 2004 when 3500 people signed a a Woolworths petition asking if residents would like a new store in the area.
The plans also attracted 752 submissions to Willoughby Council with 643 opposed due to concerns including traffic congestion, the loss of industrial land and impacts on nearby small traders.
Woolworths’ general manager of property development Andrew Loveday said the project would provide convenient shopping for local residents.
“On completion, the Woolworths Chatswood East neighbourhood shopping centre will become a high quality and convenient shopping destination – particularly for residents in the Castle Cove, Roseville and Willoughby catchments who currently have to drive to Chatswood CBD and Northbridge to meet their shopping needs,” he said.
Bradfield Federal MP Paul Fletcher also attended the ‘sod turning’ ceremony at the site on Wednesday and said the project would help create jobs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemdic.
As part of construction, Woolworths has pledged to undertake road and public transport upgrades at the intersection of Smith St and Eastern Valley Way, including a new bus bay on Eastern Valley Way.
The works will also include a new shared pedestrian and cycleway forming part of Willoughby Council’s Castle Cove to Chatswood bicycle route improvement plan.Woolworths said the development would create up to 150 jobs during construction and approximately 100 ongoing jobs once up and running in 2022.
EARLIER
DECISION AFTER SEVEN YEAR BATTLE
By David Barwell on March 23, 2021
The growing list of new and planned supermarkets on Sydney’s north shore is set to receive another addition with a five storey Woolworths and retail centre given the green light for Chatswood East.
Final plans have been approved for the $19.9 million development that will include a supermarket, bottle shop, 205 carparking spaces and three small retail tenancies on light industrial land at 17 Smith St.
The approval is the final hurdle in the retail giant’s seven year battle to build the supermarket which began in 2014 when the company launched a petition asking residents if they’d like to see a Woolworths in the area.
A total of 3500 people signed the campaign for a Woolworths.
The proposal also attracted 752 official submissions to Willoughby Council, of which 643 had opposed the development due to concerns including traffic congestion, the loss of industrial land and impacts on nearby small traders.
Woolworths last year released final plans for the site which included a larger ‘click and collect area’ to encourage online shopping in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Willoughby Council approved final modification plans for the project which Woolworths said was expected to open to shoppers in mid-2022.
A Woolworths spokeswoman said the project would deliver a convenient supermarket for the community and create up to 100 jobs once up and running.
“We’re very excited about the opportunity to bring a modern, new neighbourhood shopping centre to the East Chatswood community, to meet the fresh food and grocery needs of local residents,” she said in a statement.
The proposal is the latest development in the ongoing transformation of East Chatswood which has seen big retailers such as Bunnings, The Good Guys and Pet Barn open in the light industrial area.
Willoughby Councillor Angelo Rozos has raised concerns over the proposal due to loss of employment land, along with traffic impacts and rat-running on local streets.
“We need that industrial land because it’s so precious and rezoning the site could potentially set a precedent for the area where instead of businesses like mechanics, services and start-up companies we get more big retail outlets,” he said.
Castle Cove Butcher owner Philip Wu said the store could also impact trade for small businesses in the area.
He said: “We’ve already got a Woolworths in Chatswood and Northbridge - do we really need a third?”
“We’ll be impacted but if they want to open there’s not much we do about it. All we can hope is that people continue to appreciate the value of shopping local - that gives us an advantage.”
Woolworths said the proposal would include transport infrastructure upgrades. There will also be new cycleway and bus bay infrastructure to improve access to the site.
It remains unclear what will happen to the Return and Earn vending machine which is currently located at the site.
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