Maroondah: Eastland, East End, Aquanation and Costco changing Ringwood

From a massive new pool to a super-sized tower, there’s been a number of projects which have caught the ire of longtime locals.

For better or worse, these are the developments changing the face of Maroondah.

For better or for worse, Maroondah’s landscape is changing with new developments to cater for the region’s future.

Ringwood, which is one of nine designated activity centres in the state government’s Plan Melbourne strategy, is transforming with high rises and other offerings replacing old buildings.

Last week, Leader featured the 11-storey EastCo office tower being built on Maroondah Highway, which is set to be completed in early 2022.

The tower will be home to more than 1000 workers from the Department of Transport and is located next to Ringwood railway station and opposite Eastland.

Historians and residents expressed concerns about the tower’s design and the impact it could have on the town’s nearby Clocktower, which honours the suburb’s fallen war heroes.

Ringwood’s RSL sub-branch had originally pushed for the tower site to be used for an extended park to give residents more open space.

Here’s four other developments which have struck a nerve with some purists in recent years.

AQUANATION

Aquanation opened in 2015, replacing the old Ringwood Aquatic Centre. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

There was initial anger and concerns over Maroondah Council’s decision to knock down Ringwood’s old pool and replace it with a huge $52m complex.

The council pressed ahead with the state-of-the-art centre due to dwindling patron numbers and ageing facilities at the old Ringwood Aquatic Centre.

The decision wasn’t popular with members of the swim club and locals, with thousands signing petitions to keep the pool open and objecting to a rate rise to pay for the facility.

The pool was closed for almost four years and divers had to head to Croydon, Kew and Albert Park for their training sessions.

Eventually, Aquanation was completed, opening ahead of schedule in 2015 with outdoor slides, lap pools and dedicated facilities for Victoria’s diving team.

Pre Covid-19, the pool was attracting almost a million visitors per year.

The council borrowed $24.2 million to pay for construction of the centre in 2014, and is paying the loan back over 15 years.

COSTCO

Costco opened what was only its second Victorian warehouse at the old Ringwood market site in 2013. File picture.

Ringwood scored a coup when Costco announced it would build a warehouse between Eastland and Ringwood Square shopping centres.

Eastland’s owners QIC bought the old Ringwood market site in 2009 and plans were drawn up for a five-storey complex and underground parking, with big names such as the US bulk buy chain and Ikea touted.

Not everyone was happy with the transformation of the old market site, however, with the council receiving a 279-signature petition and concerns over building heights, a lack of parking, potential to destroy competition and underdevelopment.

Skaters at the nearby Ringwood skatepark were concerned about the impact of the development.

Costco finally confirmed its plans in 2012, which at the time was only its second warehouse in Victoria.

It then opened in November 2013 and brought nearly 400 jobs to the area.

EAST END

The plans for Ringwood’s East End includes apartments, a hotel and a public plaza. File picture.

The old home of another vintage Ringwood attraction is also set for a massive transformation.

The three-tower East End development is to be built near EastLink and opposite The Coach on Maroondah Highway, at the old home of Ringwood’s Iceland ice rink.

Iceland, which opened in 1971 and closed in 2005, was a hub for social gatherings and even hosted rock bands including AC/DC.

Various trade retailers were based at the site until it was cleared in July 2019 for East End.

One of the towers is set to reach a record-breaking 19 storeys and apartments, a public plaza, co-working space and a luxury hotel are also part of the plans.

Some readers didn’t warm to the plans when apartment sales began in early 2020, with Dave James writing: “What an absolute eyesore. Does not belong in the suburbs. Pure greed.”

But despite developer Sunstone Projects predicting a completion date sometime in 2023, construction is yet to begin, and apartment sales have been suspended.

EASTLAND

Eastland’s entrance from Ringwood Town Square. Picture: Wayne Taylor.

The shopping mecca’s $600m expansion was completed over three years, with the final stage completed in early 2016.

It turned the shabby centre into one of the premier shopping destinations in Melbourne’s east, with revamped cinemas, big name department stores and a hotel added into the mix.

Outdoor alfresco dining and a town square was also created, with easy links to the revamped REALM library and Ringwood railway stations.

But the huge overhaul also led to the introduction of paid parking after three hours, angering longtime shoppers.

Fast food lovers were also miffed when Eastland’s McDonald’s outlet was removed from the food court as part of the renovations.