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STOCKLAND Glendale plans to double the amount of retail shops in a $60million plan that could be approved as early as next month.
The shopping centre wants about 50 new retail shops, adding to the 53 already there, planning documents show.
Stockland hopes to get a bigger slice of retail spending in its trade area, which is expected to surpass $5billion by 2026.
Lake Macquarie City Council is assessing the plan, which is expected before the Joint Regional Planning Panel soon.
The plan includes a Coles expansion, an enclosed mall with a row of specialty shops in front of existing shops and a ‘‘boulevard restaurant precinct’’, with casual dining areas linking the shops and cinema.
The centre has come a long way since Stockland opened it in 1996 as the Glendale Super Centre.
Lake Macquarie mayor Jodie Harrison said the development would be a ‘‘positive investment in the local economy’’.
‘‘It’s good to see a strong show of confidence in Glendale and an investment, which will create jobs during the construction phase and full-time employment into the future,’’ Cr Harrison said.
‘‘Residents will benefit from improved access to services, entertainment and retail outlets.’’
She said the investment was a ‘‘direct response’’ to the Glendale interchange proceeding.
This reinforced the council’s vision of the interchange ‘‘unlocking development opportunities in the Glendale/Cardiff regional centre’’, she said.
Planning documents show the shopping centre plan will create an extra 278 retail jobs and 330 construction jobs. Stockland’s development team had refined its plans over the past year to ‘‘improve the centre’s design and take into account feedback from council and others’’.
‘‘Engagement with customers, retailers and council has generated important feedback, which has led to a number of modifications and improvements in our design,’’ Stockland development manager Kirrily Lord said.
The council will keep pushing for government funding for the Pennant Street bridge to be built, which would link Stockland Glendale to the Cardiff industrial estate and the Pasminco site redevelopment.
A new Bunnings on the Pasminco site at Boolaroo will replace the Bunnings at Glendale.
The Glendale store is scheduled to close on Sunday, with the Boolaroo store to open on Monday – if all goes according to plan.
Meanwhile, the council and Stockland have agreed the corporate giant will give $3.2million towards the $135million transport interchange. The council intends to make this a condition of consent for Glendale’s expansion.
A $26million roadworks project for the interchange will provide a much-needed second access to the shopping centre.
A council report said the $3.2million contribution would include $1million in cash, a car park reconfiguration worth $900,000 and a land transfer to the council – worth $1.3million – for the interchange roadworks.
Cr Harrison said the agreement was another step in ensuring the interchange progressed and provided ‘‘better links between employment opportunities, residential growth areas and national transport routes’’.
‘‘When all stages are complete, the interchange will further benefit residents and businesses by providing better public transport infrastructure to reduce traffic congestion,’’ she said.