Wonga Park Village: Manningham Council seeks public feedback on redevelopment

Plans are finally underway to revitalise Wonga Park Village Centre which has been empty for more than three years. Now Manningham Council wants public feedback before giving the project the go ahead. See what’s planned.

An artist's impression of what the redeveloped Wonga Park Shopping Centre could look like.

The redevelopment of a Manningham shopping strip, which has lain vacant since the end of 2015, will add a first floor and ground-level foyer in a bid to breathe life back into the beleaguered centre.

Manningham Council is seeking public feedback on the proposal for Wonga Park Village Centre before making a final decision on issuing permits.

A cafe, restaurant and a fish and chips shop could be among the hospitality offerings, while it is hoped other businesses will include a supermarket, a gym and consulting suites.

Plans include removing six shops to create a public entry area, while adding more businesses on the first floor.

An artist's impression of what the Wonga Park shops could look like.

A listing with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission names the Wonga Park Shopping Centre Trust as the beneficial owner, which in turn is owned by Mark Etherington, who lives in Wonga Park.

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Mr Etherington is chief executive of the Australian Property Trust and said he bought the block with a view to creating a “community hub”.

“I want businesses to have a relationship with the wider Wonga Park community, from primary school and kindergarten, through to the local sporting clubs and other organisations,” he said.

“We will encourage the tenant businesses to employ local and support local. We are not from out of town and are certainly here for a long and sustainable community revitalisation project that is well overdue.”

The centre has empty since the last tenant was kicked out just before Christmas in 2015.

More than 1000 people joined a Facebook page, Petition to save Wonga Park Village shops, after it was created in 2016.

You can provide feedback on the plans here.