Burwood One management looks into carpark complaints and other changes
Shoppers at this Burwood shopping centre — home to Australia’s oldest Kmart — are calling for an overhaul of its carpark, complaining of tight turns, confusing signs and small spaces. But is the centre’s new owner about to tackle the problem?
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A major eastern suburb’s shopping centre — complete with Australia’s oldest Kmart store — could be set for some changes.
This comes as shoppers call for a desperate overhaul of the centre’s “atrocious” carpark, where they say it’s always a battle to find a park.
Burwood One, the country’s strongest trading Coles and Kmart combination, was taken over by CHP Management in April after an international investor bought the centre last November.
The more than $180 million-sale marked the centre’s first change of hands in 26 years.
“Fresh eyes” are now looking at ways to make it more convenient and welcoming for shoppers, and to see how it could better service the area’s needs and wants, according to centre manager Toni Wallis.
She said management was keen to make the centre more of a place for people to interact, wanting to offer space to community and sporting groups.
But shoppers have identified carparking as the main issue at the centre which has hosted Kmart since 1969.
Vermont’s Pen McEncroe, who has been shopping at Burwood One all her life, said she always struggled to find a park.
“No matter what time of day or night you go, you always drive around looking for a park,” she said.
Ms McEncroe said she loved the centre, particularly because it had Coles, Kmart and Aldi all in one spot, but there had been times when she’s decided not to stop and shop because she couldn’t find a park.
“Time is precious,” she said.
Adrian Lieschke agreed: “Parking is atrocious and doesn’t flow, it certainly needs fixing.”
Other shoppers told Whitehorse Leaderthe busy carpark involved many tight turns, with too many spaces crammed in and confusing signage.
Ms Wallis said while customers were complaining it was difficult to find a park, the centre’s two levels of undercover carparking — where more than 600 of the centre’s 970 parks are located — was “really under-utilised”.
She said management was eagerly awaiting the traffic engineer’s assessment of the centre’s parking, unsure why shoppers weren’t using the parks, instead preferencing the 397 outdoor parks at the front of the centre.
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“It’s easy, it’s convenient, it’s undercover,” she said.
Ms Wallis said while the studies were still underway, small changes would be made — such as redoing the line marking in the undercover parking areas and adding new signs.
Shoppers also said they wanted to see a new cafe or restaurant at the centre, as well as children’s play equipment.
Ms Wallis said she was always available to listen to customers’ thoughts on the centre.
Feedback can be submitted at burwoodone.com.au/contact.