Cairns Central revamp on track
EXCITED shoppers watching the $60 million redevelopment of Cairns Central shopping centre can look forward to an on-time completion date expected later this year.
But newcomer to the centre, Woolworths, addressed speculation the Cairns CBD is not capable of supporting a second store after the supermarket giant announced plans to take up a new first-floor tenancy in the revamped centre.
Concrete pumps were onsite at the Spence St end of CBD’s flagship retail hub last week, pouring cement to add 535sq m to the ground floor and another 410sq m to the first floor.
Inside ground and first floor demolition work is complete.
Cairns Central centre manager Christie-Lee Jackson said Lendlease had made “significant headway on the Cairns Central redevelopment”.
“Since the turning of the first sod, the construction team have completed the Myer loading dock and prepared areas of the centre to facilitate new travelators from ground to first floor,” she said.
“The next four weeks will include further demolition work on the mezzanine level and commencement of services work.
“The Cairns Central redevelopment remains on-budget and on-time.”
Sports nutrition worker and keen shopper Cyril Berjot said he had been the watching the progress with interest and hoped new contemporary outlets would keep pace with the swish new building.
“I would love to see a bit of variety and for it to be a destination … making it a great shopping experience,” he said.
The refurbishment will include a new fresh food market hall, anchored by Woolworths, offering dining options and food retailers, a new vehicle express ramp, better parking facilities, a children’s play area and additional parenting rooms.
A Woolworths spokeswoman quashed rumours the company planned to close its store fronting Abbott and Lake streets following the opening of its new Cairns Central store.
The spokeswoman assured grocery shoppers there were “many, many” years on the lease and the supermarket would remain a permanent fixture in the CBD.