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Council has replied to TRRA’s enquiry about about its intentions following the withdrawal by Tinklercorp of its offer to buy the entire 11 hectares of land surrounding the existing Centre. Council replied on 3 April HERE that it had resolved not to develop a Masterplan but that it would be holding stakeholder workshops to develop ‘design guidelines’.
A report to Council Committee on 10 April gave a partial history of the Tinklercorp negotiations, and noted that Woolworths had taken up a 2010 option to purchase some 2 hectares of land to the north of the existing centre. The Examiner reported (19 April) that detailed negotiations are now underway for a BigW store, more car parking and additional specialty shops, linked to the existing centre near where Aldi was reported earlier to be moving in.
TRRA welcomes the increased retail variety and competition but remains concerned at Councils’ piecemeal approach to the development of the overall site, and environmental impacts. We have accepted HERE the invitation to participate in the workshops but will also press Council for an integrated and visionary plan that also takes in the valuable community facilities including the library and child care centre.
Do we know when the construction of the aldi will be finished? Also, will big w be coming to the same location??
Stephen – we don’t know the answers to your questions but hope they will be answered at the first workshop on 28 June – will post a report soon after
Now at least all the members know we were consulted!
We even know that they have a DA!
When they try to slip the Woolworths land sale/sub-division through do we look for 155 Salamander Way or 3 Town Circuit?
It would be a whole lot easier to watch for if it was Salamander Regional Shopping Centre
Moderator’s comment:
Neil, Our apoligies for not posting this before but a DA was submitted for this work and TRRA Inc. Planning Sub-Committee considered it and made a recommendation to Council to accept it.
6 January 2011
The General Manager
Port Stephens Council
Re: DA 884/2011 – New Aldi store at Salamander Centre
TRRA supports this DA.
Residents of the Tomaree peninsula have for some time desired greater variety
and more competition in food retailing, and have in particular looked forward to
the arrival of an Aldi store.
As you know, we opposed Council’s 2010 plan to sell off a site on Salamander
Way for an Aldi store, not because we opposed an Aldi Store but because it
would have been a poor planning outcome, requiring shoppers to park away from
the main shopping centre, and limiting the competition benefit.
This DA is a preferable solution – providing an Aldi store within the structure of
the existing centre and using the same car parks. This will maximise the
competition benefit, while leaving all options open for a properly planned
development of the land provisionally sold by Council last year.
We submit that Council should approve this DA, with such conditions as the
planning staff consider appropriate.
Yours sincerely,
Nigel Waters
Planning Sub-committee
Tomaree Ratepayers and Residents Association
Construction has begun on the extension of the shopping centre yet where is the DA and most importantly under what approval is construction being undertaken.
Is this another case of anything goes in Port Stephens or development at any case?
Why are the Council and Colonial scared of the production of a Master Plan or Development Plan?