Toyota Woolooware site, Caringbah: Pub, retail precinct plan revealed
Plans to transform a site in Sydney’s south — which until recently was the location of one of Toyota’s major employment and manufacturing hubs — would include a bustling business park offering retail opportunities, a pub, a hotel and more. SEE THE VISION HERE.
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UPDATE: JUNE 1 2021
The developers behind big plans to transform a former Toyota manufacturing site into a hotel and entertainment precinct are now seeking to run it as a 24-hour warehouse while they dream up the site's future.
In September 2020, Aliro Group submitted a multi-million dollar proposal to Sutherland Shire Council to transform the former Toyota site at Woolooware Bay into a world class business park with tourist and visitor accommodation, a pub, a function centre and shops.
"(We are planning) a variety of building forms that cater for a range of employment types including industrial and manufacturing, office, tech, filming, scientific and creative industries and distribution and warehousing," the applicants wrote.
However, the applicants have now submitted a second application seeking to use the site as a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week warehouse while it awaits approval for their business park plans.
"This application is entirely separate from the planning proposal and the associated long-term vision for the site," the applicants wrote.
"The purpose of this application is to enable the ongoing use of the site, facilitate the adaptive reuse of the main warehouse and to return industrial activity to the area following the departure of Toyota."
The 12.68ha site at 13 Endeavour Rd Caringbah - now called TripleTwoNine - is now up for lease with Colliers International Sydney South
"This exceptional Sutherland Shire site presents occupiers with a rare opportunity to lease various warehouse options within the site," the agents wrote.
"TripleTwoNine is part of Sydney's hottest industrial precinct with a series of local, national and international businesses that currently operate within this area."
The proposal is now under consideration by the council.
EARLIER: OCTOBER 12 2020
It was once an employment and manufacturing juggernaut of the Shire — but the Toyota Woolooware Bay site in Caringbah could take on an ambitious new lease of life as plans for a swanky hotel, pub and retail precinct are revealed.
A multimillion-dollar planning proposal by Aliro Group has been revealed for the former Toyota manufacturing, sales and administrative centre at 13 Endeavour Rd, Caringbah, earmarking the transformation of the site into a bustling new employment park with “interconnected employment precincts.
But the crowning jewel of the redevelopment includes a massive tavern and boutique hotel overlooking Solander Fields and Shark Park.
A planner for the ambitious project said the proposal would offer a range of speciality food and drink outlets within the precinct, while the tavern would be designed as a “meeting place for workers or nearby residents” just a few hundred metres from the Cronulla Sharks home-ground.
“The site has the potential for a boutique hotel to support the visitor economy,” the planner said in its bid to council. “The location of the hotel will be opposite the entrance, acting as a gateway to the site and defining the future character of the precinct.”
Meanwhile existing industrial warehouses at the centre of the business park would be retained, with additional warehouse and industrial space forecast for the Woolooware Bay Foreshore alongside a series of “convenience-based retail” outlets.
The expansive site, purchased by Aliro Group earlier this year after Toyota’s 30-year occupation of the site ended in 2019, would be redeveloped over nine stages into four employment precincts.
A Toyota spokeswoman said approximately 361 employees were impacted when the Caringbah-based jobs were relocated to Melbourne.
“Out of the 361 employees, approximately 93 relocated to other cities – 77 to Melbourne and 16 to positions in other Toyota regions,” the Toyota spokeswoman said.
“Other business functions continued to occupy the Caringbah space before being moved to other Sydney locations, including a new state of the art Toyota Parts Centre at Kemps Creek and a NSW regional office at Sydney Olympic Park.”
Aliro Group bought the site from Toyota in June 2020, including the former sales and marketing headquarters, a substantial warehouse and other buildings on the 12.4ha site.
“Aliro has a 10-year vision to convert the site into a significant commercial, industrial, educational and recreational business park,” Toyota said in an earlier statement about the sale.
“Aliro’s proposal – which includes retaining existing buildings – is expected to create a large number of jobs for the local community while delivering an important amenity for the area.”
At the time Toyota Australia President and CEO Matthew Callachor said Aliro’s plans to create jobs were central to the final sale.
“We believe Aliro’s plans are in keeping with Toyota’s 50-year history in the area as a significant employer and community member,” Mr Callachor said.
Aliro’s chief delivery officer Andrzej Masztak said the company respected Toyota’s long history in the Shire.
“We recognise the significant short, medium and long-term potential for this site to generate significant employment and amenity for the residents of the Shire and the local community,” Mr Masztak said.