RESIDENTS in Lakelands can look forward to what is being described as a very exciting project after Mandurah city councillors gave proposed shopping plans the green light at a special council meeting on Tuesday night.
The plan to build two takeaway facilities, a service station, a liquor store, a restaurant or potential tavern, a 6000sqm supermarket and more on the current Cobaki Brace site will now go to the Peel Joint Development Assessment Panel for final authorisation with work to begin as soon as possible, according to a spokesperson for land owner Peet Mandurah Syndicate.
"It will be a pedestrian-orientated mixed use centre to meet the diverse needs of the community through the day and night," the spokesperson said.
Described as a comprehensive plan on a relatively baron site, councillors questioned access to the site and in particular, when proposed traffic signals at the yet to be constructed Banksiadale Gate/Madora Beach Road intersection and Lake Valley Drive/Mandurah intersection would be operational.
According to the Peet spokesperson, the traffic signals would need to be fully functioning at both intersections before any business could operate on the site.
The council approval is just the footprint for the development with further applications required to be approved by councillors before the work could go ahead on individual businesses.
The development, valued at $30million would be built in two stages with a ‘main street’ and ‘town square’, a retail centre to include a 6000sqm supermarket, a 1500sqm ‘mini major’, 4500sqm of additional retail tenancies, a 1250sqm liquor store, a 1500sqm restaurant or potential tavern, a service station, two fast food outlets, more than 1000 car parking bays and associated servicing and landscaping to be completed in stage one.
Stage one is set for a 2016 completion.
Stage two would encompass further development of the retail centre to include another ‘anchor’ in the form of a discount department store, a medical component and additional specialty retail as well as offices, cafes, a community centre and other mixed use. It would also include extensions to the parking areas.
Councillors speaking at Tuesday night's meeting agreed the development would provide local employment opportunities and said the works were a long-time coming for Lakelands residents.
"I am sure all the people currently living out there will look forward to the shopping opportunities," councillor Fred Riebeling said.
"It's an area sadly lacking from facilities and services and I am sure the people in the area will be cheering."
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