Sentinel Property Group: Casuarina shopping centre changes focus on safety

A major shake-up is planned at a Darwin shopping centre. Read what’s planned and see the exclusive images.

Casuarina Square owners Sentinel Property Group have lodged a revised development application for the expansion of the Woolworths shopping mall and additional parking, to improve safety and customer access.

Sentinel Development Director, Greg Campbell, said the Development Consent Authority had approved the Woolworths expansion earlier this year – including a direct-to-boot facility – but the plan had been updated.

He said senior national management from Sentinel and Woolworths met with NT Government officials at Casuarina Square after the initial application was approved to discuss how the existing infrastructure could be improved to minimise anti-social behaviour.

Images of the proposed new redevelopment with improved line-of-sight

“Based on this meeting, Sentinel and Woolworths collectively worked on a revised plan to transform the northern Woolworths mall and carpark into a neighbourhood style convenience centre catering more for safe family shopping,” Mr Campbell said.

“The revised plan includes improved safety by reducing the size of the previously approved extended basement carpark and improved direct customer access from a raised ground level carpark that flows directly into a wider supermarket mall and Woolworths shopfront.”

Other features of the new development application include improved customer comfort with shade structures in from the new Woolworths mall entry, and improved movement between the undercover and ground level car parks.

He said the enhancements would realign the future development zone to “facilitate a town centre design”, with better amenity for future residential accommodation and connection to the Casuarina Club site, which Sentinel also owns.

It’s also intended to improve customer flows for the future redevelopment of The Quarter and includes a full refit of the Woolworths, including the introduction of the NT’s first direct-to-boot facility.

It is hoped upgrades will kick off next year.

Improved sight lines from Trower Rd to the new Woolworths mall entry will also enhance visitor safety and amenity.

The new plans also include the closure of the BWS bottle shop and relocation of the Commonwealth Bank branch to an external position within the complex.

Sentinel will look to commence construction in the second half of 2025, if it receives approval from the DCA.

In addition to Woolworths, the DCA this year also approved redevelopment of the quarter precinct into a climate-controlled environment with a microbrewery as anchor tenant and a World Gym.

Casuarina Square centre manager Polly Lamond welcomed the rejigging of the Woolworths approval and the overall development.

“If a direct correlation can be drawn between the economic health of a local community and the performance of its dominant retail offering, then we are confident in the future of Casuarina Square and Darwin,” Ms Lamond said.