Market Square owners ‘pull the plug’ on Singapore meeting with Geelong council mayor and chief executive

What was supposed to be the first meeting in many years turned out to be a non-event and City Hall says it has had enough, with plans to compulsorily acquire the site now being explored.

Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan outside Market Square shopping centre.

City Hall’s two most senior figures have been sensationally snubbed by the owners of Market Square during a trip to Singapore.

Mayor Trent Sullivan slammed the no-show and said it gave council greater impetus to pursue a compulsory acquisition of the CBD site he described as a “gaping hole” currently.

Mr Sullivan and chief executive Ali Wastie visited Singapore for three days in early August on their way to Korea.

They had organised, via Market Square property manager Knight Frank, to meet the directors of Davinski Nominees in what would have been the parties’ first face-to-face conversation in several years.

But Mr Sullivan said Knight Frank fell silent upon the pair’s arrival in Singapore and no meeting eventuated.

“We heard nothing, communications ceased, nothing,” he said.

“To have the curtain drawn on us, to have them simply pull the plug and refuse to meet was not only disheartening, I believe it’s actually an affront.

“Not only to the city, but to all residents in Geelong who need change, want change, and who don’t want to see vacant shops and businesses closing down in the middle of the CBD.”

The Singapore skyline.

Geelong council sold Market Square to Davinski in 1996 for $32m.

Its three Singapore-based directors are Kim Thong Tan, Kai Wah Wong and Kai Yuan Wong, the latter two being related.

The ongoing decline of the centre is of major concern to council.

Another two outlets – City Chic and Adairs – announced their departure just last week.

Mr Sullivan described the strategic development site as “a gaping hole that really is unproductive land in the middle of our city”.

He said upcoming meetings with state government agencies would gauge interest in working together to acquire the land.

Not happy: Geelong Mayor Trent Sullivan.

“Market Square itself, and the precinct, is not only some of the most valuable real estate we have, it’s the most visible and is very symbolic,” he said.

“People see what is going on there and they believe that is a representation of the entire community, when it’s very much not.

“We can’t have this canker sore on the face of Geelong indicating that we’re not a place to do business, that we’re not doing bricks and mortar well, when we actually are around the region.”

Victorian legislation allows compulsory acquisitions when “the land should be put to appropriate use in order to achieve proper development in the area”.

Mr Sullivan conceded the process would take years and while City Hall’s preferred option was to work alongside Davinski, he was not confident that would occur.

A key focus of the Singapore meeting was to learn of Davinski’s plans for the site after the group did not participate in a draft masterplan process, a move Mr Sullivan labelled “beyond disappointing”.

“The time for action is now,” he said.

“Up to now we’ve been operating in good faith that the owners of Market Square still do care about the region and want to see businesses return to their facility.

“Now the fact they’ve closed the door on us and have not met with us, that they are disinterested in these conversations, shows me that further action needs to take place.

“Nothing is off the table, whether it’s compulsory acquisition, (or) working with other developers to activate space on or around Market Square … specials rates and charges.”

In a statement, Davinski said it was “very positive about the future growth prospects and strength of Geelong as a key regional centre”.

“The owners were keen to meet the mayor (in Singapore) but unfortunately were not able to have all directors available for the suggested meeting dates,” it said.

“Davinski’s Australian director (Robert Bourke) has met with the council chief executive and will continue to be available to develop plans in the best interests of the Geelong CBD and Market Square.”

Ms Wastie said she had never met Mr Bourke and when pressed on which chief executive it was, Davinski declined to comment further.

Lincraft is one of many stores to have left Market Square in the past year.

The Addy revealed last month that Davinski would not invest in the site unless the Moorabool St bus exchange was relocated.

They described its current location as a “deal killer”.

Mr Sullivan urged the state government to accelerate any decision regarding the bus stop, but said the issue should not be used by Davinski as an excuse to not to engage.

Geelong MP Christine Couzens said a review of the bus stop was ongoing.

“Still working this through,” she said.

Committee for Geelong chief executive Michael Johnston said the current situation at Market Square was untenable.

“With the significant investment and development in central Geelong in recent years, it has become increasingly obvious Market Square needs revitalisation,” he said.

“The experience for locals and visitors alike is not what we want for our city.”

Mr Johnston agreed with Mr Sullivan that all options should be explored.

“A desire for a reimagined Market Square precinct to maximise public open space in the heart of the city is a common theme in consultation with our membership,” he said.

While in Singapore, Mr Sullivan and Ms Wastie met with a range of government and private sector organisations.

These included renewable energy group Canopy Energy and the Design Singapore Council.

Originally published as Market Square owners ‘pull the plug’ on Singapore meeting with Geelong council mayor and chief executive