Eurobodalla Council to vote on proposed North Batemans Bay shopping centre

A vacant lot on the NSW south coast, previously floated to become a car dealership and fast food outlet, is set to be transformed into a shopping complex as the decision comes to council.

Artist impression of the proposed North Batemans Bay Retail.

The fate of a $23m retail precinct pinned for a large vacant block in a NSW south coast town is set to be decided in the coming days.

Eurobodalla Council will vote on the proposed $23,500,400 ‘North Batemans Bay Retail’ outlet during its ordinary meeting on Tuesday.

If approved, the proposed shopping centre featuring two large scale speciality retail stores will be erected at the vacant lot opposite the Kings Hwy roundabout and Ampol Petrol Station in North Batemans Bay.

Development firm Bokor has a history of constructing speciality stores around Australia.

A report prepared by council staff has recommended the plans be approved and the building height limit in the area be adjusted to allow its construction.

The site was supposed to become a car dealership in the 1990s, before the project was abandoned. Picture: Tom McGann

Plans reveal the proposed shopping centre would exclusively house two large ‘speciality’ retailers, with two warehouse style stores being constructed under one roof.

The larger store – known in plans as ‘Tenancy A’ – would be 3416sq m, with an extra 1000sq m for storage space, while ‘Tenancy B’ would sit at 2695sq m, with an extra 560sq m of storage.

Artist impression of the proposed North Batemans Bay Retail.

Plans also reveal the shopping centre would include a total of 154 parking spaces, including underground spaces and outside parking.

More than 30 bicycle spaces and two trolley bays have also been included in the plans.

Signage with the speciality store logos is also proposed to be installed next to the highway and mall as part of the construction.

A spokesman for Bokor wrote in a statement about the need for the vacant block in North Batemans Bay to be constructed into such a development.

The North Batemans Bay site was previously used by Transport NSW during the Batemans Bay Bridge project. Picture: Tom McGann

He revealed the developer’s met with council on three separate occasions in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Previous plans included multiple fast food outlets, however these were removed.

Documents reveal the land was originally approved to become a car dealership and showroom in the late 1990s, before the project was abandoned.

Most recently, the block was used by Transport NSW during the construction of the new Batemans Bay Bridge, before the site was cleaned and returned to its vacant state.

The centre will include two specialised retailers.

Despite this, documents reveal the construction of the mall would include the removal of 4925sq m of vegetation.

The Bokor spokesman said the location was perfect due to its proximity to the Batemans Bay CBD, the size of the lot and the distance from houses.

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