Patterson Lakes: Fire rips through shops at Harbour Plaza
Two men have been charged after an alleged arson attack at a Patterson Lakes shopping centre which caused massive damage.
South East
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Traders at a set of shops damaged by a fire at a Patterson Lakes shopping centre may not return until the second half of 2022.
Investigations are believed to be continuing into the fire which ripped through part of Jetty Plaza on Thompsons Rd, late on February 9.
Four businesses — the Dandy Mart tobacconist, the Beer and Wine Co bar, the Famished Wolf burger shop, and the Ariake Japanese restaurant — were destroyed in the fire and will need to be rebuilt.
CCTV footage showed two men allegedly starting a fire at the front of one store, believed to be the tobacconist, with one of the men managing to set his feet on fire.
A silver ute was seen leaving the scene shortly after the fire was allegedly lit.
Traders at 15 other nearby shops were also affected by the fire, and have been unable to return to their stores due to smoke and structural damage, particularly with roofs.
Leader understands some traders have relocated temporarily to other spaces in and around the shopping centre, and have been told it could be months before they can return.
The immediate area surrounding the stores and part of the centre’s carpark was fenced off the morning after the fire.
Beer and Wine Co owner Greg Beretta said he was unsure of a timeline for renovations and reconstruction of his destroyed bar and the surrounding area.
But he said inspectors, landlords and insurance companies associated with the site were all making an effort to pick up the pieces as quickly as possible.
“Everyone is supporting each other, all the tenants are helping each other where we can, and the community has been amazing as well offering help,” Mr Beretta said.
Mordialloc police Senior Sergeant Andrew Wise said after the fire there was “substantial damage” to the complex which would have a major impact on traders.
“There is quite substantial damage and that obviously impacts on our local businesses here,” Sen Sgt Wise said.
“We’ll do everything we can to rehabilitate this area and get them back to business as quickly as we can.”
Following the fire, the owner of the tobacconist, Khan Hazara, said he left his shop less than 90 minutes before it broke out.
“We’ve been going through Covid for the past two years and look at this now,” he said.
“I don’t have any clue who would do it.”
Hairdresser Kirra Warren said there was extensive roof damage in the cluster of shops, and the prospect of being closed for a long period was “scary”.
“We’re trying to get our businesses back up and running and now this,” she said.
Two men were charged by Brimbank detectives after executing search warrants in Coburg North and Bundoora on Monday, March 7.
A 19-year-old Coburg North man has been charged with intentional destruction of property by fire, criminal damage by fire, conduct endanger life, burglary, possess proceeds of crime and commit indictable offence while on bail.
A 20-year-old Bundoora man has been charged with intentional destruction of property by fire, criminal damage by fire, conduct endanger life, burglary and prohibited person possess firearm.
The men were expected to face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday
