Chullora Marketplace to be transformed to six-storey multi-use centre
The ageing Chullora Marketplace will be transformed into a much larger six-storey multi-use complex dominated by hundreds of residential units, if new plans are approved.
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The owners of Chullora Marketplace have revealed radical plans to renovate the shopping centre and replace it with a new retail space, offices and more than 350 residential units across six floors.
Canterbury Bankstown Council on Tuesday night unanimously agreed for the development at 355 Waterloo Rd, Greenacre to go to the next planning phase — gateway determination.
Henroth Investments, the owner of Chullora Marketplace, want to raise the current maximum height of 11m (three storeys) to 14-20 metres (four to six storeys), paving the way for a mixed-use complex. The owners plan to retain much of it and mostly build on the car park area at the front and possibly in the southeast corner.
Chullora Marketplace currently features 57,000 sqm of space but only 20,000 sqm is used. Under the new plans, parking for more than 850 cars would shift to the basement.
Big W, the biggest retailer at the site, announced last week it would be closing down its store by January 2020.
Henroth senior development manager Dan Maurici said he was pleased the council had resolved to support the planning proposal, which would transform the much loved centre on Waterloo Rd, Greenacre.
He told the council it would “allow for a significantly improved community focused sense of pride and place”.
“The proposal is for a maximum height of six storeys,” Mr Maurici told The Express.
“It will be generally retail/service/community uses on the lower levels and residential above.
“We are not sure on the break up as this is very early days and detail design will come later.”
Councillor Bilal El-Hayek, whose ward covers Chullora, had concerns about the traffic and said it was not a good location for these developments.
He moved two amendments during Tuesday’s meeting which were passed:
■ That the proponent contribute to a recreation facility and district level community facility in the Greenacre locality
■ Subject to receipt of a gateway determination, the proponent is to hold multiple open public forums to inform the community and seek feedback.
Cr El-Hayek said by adjusting the heights to create plaza space and green open space it would be a much better development.
“I don’t think this is a good place for dense development but as I said its already allowed under current controls, therefore I want the community to see this and have a say.
“The only way that can happen is if we support this going to gateway where the NSW Government will review and approve a public exhibition before this proposal comes back to council, at which time we can be fully informed of the views of the community on this.”
Mr Maurici said they would not be changing the existing floor space ratio which is 1:1 according to the LEP.
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He said they will work with their tenants in regard to their future with the new complex.
On Tuesday night, Mr Maurici told the council: “The flexibility is requested now, more urgently than ever as Chullora Marketplace is struggling in its current form to perform its true function as a local centre in the Bankstown LGA.
“If the council allows the proposal, we can move forward to plan a DCP in collaboration with council to create a vibrant mixed-use development on site that can actually respond to changing residential and retail demands as opposed to being essentially confined by the current LEP to problematic traditional ground floor retail.
Mr Maurici said they do not have anything locked in as yet on which store or stores will replace Big W, saying they are in discussions with several national retailers.
Correction, July 25: An earlier version of this article stated the centre will be demolished, which is not accurate. The centre will undergo a significant upgrade.
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