Winmalee Village Centre’s al fresco future revealed
EXCLUSIVE: Plans for a million-dollar dining precinct at Winmalee have lobbed with Blue Mountains City Council. Find out more about the village centre’s plans.
The Blue Mountains News
Don't miss out on the headlines from The Blue Mountains News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Why was Leura Fire Station closed during Woodford bushfire?
- High school teacher charged with sexually assaulting female students
- Blue Mountains castle, Bunda House, for sale
Property trust ISPT has lodged a development application with Blue Mountains City Council to create two outdoor dining spaces at Winmalee Village Centre.
The proposed al fresco precinct would be at the centre of a $974,000 upgrade of the 14-year-old shopping centre.
ISPT’s spokeswoman told the Blue Mountains News enhancing their customer’s enjoyment was at the heart of this plan.
“The refurbishment works pending approval intend to place the Village as Winmalee’s one-stop destination for everyday goods and services, by offering a relevant range and the highest level of convenience,” she added.
ISPT’s proposal also includes an aesthetic upgrade to the façade, installation of an internal lift to the upper commercial levels, a new car park configuration and erection of a shade structure over the existing car park.
A statement of environment effects submitted to the council notes none of the proposed work will physically impact on the heritage items at Winmalee Village.
The items of concern were the Mountains Fiesta Restaurant and a group of bunya pines in the grounds of Newgrove, later known as The Grange and now as Mountains Fiesta Restaurant.
The Office of Environment & Heritage website says the old bunya pines are “clearly the survivors of a larger number of property markers associated with Newgrove before subdivision set in after World War II”.
“In the Victorian period bunyas were a very popular exotic brought in from Queensland to plant around country estates,” the site further noted.
The ISPT owned neighbourhood shopping centre, at 14-28 White Cross Road, offers 20 speciality retailers anchored by a Coles.
“A re-leasing campaign is underway,” ISPT’s spokeswoman said.