Croydon Central Shopping Centre plans under review by Maroondah Council
SIX years, three owners, three different plans. Is there finally light at the end of the tunnel for the shopping centre in Melbourne’s outer east?
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TRADERS and shoppers are waiting with bated breath to find out if plans for the Croydon Central redevelopment will go ahead.
After five years of false starts, Maroondah Council is reviewing “less ambitious” plans for the centre’s redevelopment that would be completed in stages if approved.
Haben Property plans a smaller development for Croydon Central Shopping Centre
The council approved a $50 million revamp including two supermarkets and retail and food outlets at the Kent Ave site in March last year, by previous owner PCL Prattcorp.
But the site was sold to Sydney-based company Haben Property four months later and revised plans were submitted this year.
Haben spokesman Gavin Holman said the centre would be increased from 9848sq m to 22,000sq m and include a Kmart and Aldi, a food and dining precinct, underground carpark and improved pedestrian crossing from Croydon station.
Big Mates Pizza’s Greg Morton said it had been quite a saga for traders over the past five years but it was time to move forward.
“These plans seem a bit more practical and more friendly,” Mr Morton said.
“There is always that fear of change and there are a few traders who wonder where they will fit in but … overall it is great for the community.”
Mr Morton said he was “very confident” the plans, which are now on display, would go ahead.
“There’s been a lot of interest and every time I go past the display there are about four or five people checking out the plans,” he said.
“I haven’t really heard anything negative so far.”
Mayor Natalie Thomas said the proposal was a “less ambitious” development that would be completed in three stages.
She said plans must fit within the site’s development overlay, meaning it would “fill empty sites, capitalise on key intersections and create improved interfaces”.
Carpark views must also be concealed and shops must also be included at street level on Wicklow Ave to link the area to Croydon Main St.
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