WOOLWORTHS’ PLAN PROGRESSES

THE proposal for a new shopping centre with a Woolworths supermarket at Byrnes St, Mareeba, is progressing with Mareeba Shire Council leasing unused land that will clear the way for a development application to be lodged. Sphere Group Development bought a 1.52ha parcel of land at 232 Byrnes St – across the road from Coles – but needed the extra bit of land for its $50m plan for a shopping centre of 4500sq m.

Sphere director Greg Ritchie said the company would own the site and had a long-term agreement from Woolworths to build and lease back a supermarket in a shopping centre. He said the plan was to open by mid-2024.