Westfield Eastgardens: Meriton’s Harry Triguboff reveals shopping centre plans for Pagewood Green

Billionaire developer Harry Triguboff has revealed Meriton’s plans for a rival shopping centre at Westfield Eastgardens neighbouring Pagewood Green.

Westfield has plans of transforming its Eastgardens location.

Billionaire developer Harry Triguboff has welcomed Westfield Eastgardens’ grand plans for a major revamp, revealing he too is building “a very big shopping centre” at Meriton’s neighbouring Pagewood Green.

This publication revealed last week Westfield Eastgarden, which hasn’t been upgraded in 21 years, had plans in place to transform it into a “vibrant, versatile town centre” with rooftop dining, refreshed retail as well as potential affordable housing.

While Mr Triguboff said there hadn’t been any communication between Meriton and the Scentre Group, but threw his support behind the proposal.

“Yes we are building a very big shopping centre ourselves, which will be of course brand new and quite different from theirs,” he said.

Despite the proposition of two neighbouring shopping centres, the Meriton boss said “they should complement each other”.

Meriton’s billionaire founder Harry Triguboff. Photo James Horan

“I think both will do very well because the population has grown by so much and fixing up their old centre is a good idea,” Mr Triguboff said. “We are [also] happy that they will be building offices which will provide employment opportunities and more amenity for our residents.”

The comments come after the Scentre Group and Terrace Tower Group’s expansion plans in Eastgardens with plans initially lodged with Bayside Council in 2018.

The proposal is now before the state government, with the developer highlighting the urgency for the upgrade, stating this was far beyond the typical 10 year redevelopment cycle.

Three commercial towers, including a hotel and affordable housing have been slated in the proposal, alongside a rooftop dining, a refreshed food court and a new cinema as entertainment options for customers and residents.

A concept plan of the Pagewood Green development.

The multi-use building would accommodate a range of office uses to assist with future employment growth and job creation.

As previously reported by this publication, Meriton has lodged plans with Bayside Council for 449 units at 128 Bunnerong Rd and 120 Banks Ave with two buildings to stand at 18 and 19 storeys tall.

It’s part of a $156.2m development proposal which has been referred to the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel for consideration.

Meriton bought the Pagewood Green site in 2013 and purchased a further 6ha in 2015.

Westfield and the Scentre Group have been asked for comment.