Kmart for Warragul?

Development of a Kmart store as part of a new $25 million retail precinct in Warragul may only depend on rezoning the land.

Currently zoned for a bulky goods precinct, Baw Baw Shire Council will request Planning Minister Richard Wynne fast tracks a land rezoning to allow retail development on the site on the corner of Queen St and Hazel Drv.

A representative for the developer confirmed to council last week that Kmart and Bunnings were both “board approved” for tenancy and there was “potential” for a Dan Murphy’s store.

The development will create 292 full time equivalent jobs and could be open within 18 months if everything goes to plan.

On behalf of the developer, Tom McInerney told council a Kmart and full line Bunnings store had been “board approved” with business cases completed.

He said signing leases were subject to planning approval being received.

Mr McInerney said Dan Murphy’s was not part of their submission. “We don’t have them signed but there is potential to have them,” he said.

Addressing concerns that a retail precinct away from the town centre may impact businesses, Mr McInerney said there was already a strong leakage of dollars to other towns.

“I think it will improve the town centre. We aren’t trying to create a shopping centre to drag people out of the town. “I think the cost benefit is large,” he said. Mr McInerney said there would be about 150 people a day working on the site during construction. He said the development was valued at $25 million, and the fit-out by tenants could be another $30 million.

The rezoning being sought by council will allow the site to be used for retail premises including a bottle shop (with minimum floor space of 1000 square metres), department store and convenience restaurant.

The Warragul structure plan identifies the land as an existing industrial and employment area.

A shire initiated Facebook poll last month showed 97 per cent of the 2750 respondents supporting a discount department store in the shire. Ninety per cent identified Warragul as the preferred location.

Cr Danny Goss said Warragul had “long cried out” for this type of development.

“At one stage we thought it might be on the old Bonlac site but there are no plans in existence for that site and if they are, we haven’t seen them.

“So while one developer is procrastinating, another one is awake.

“Overall, this is a very welcome development and I hope it’s opened in the next 18 months,” he said.

Cr Michael Leaney said council’s recent poll showed overwhelming support for this type of Warragul.

“This is an opportunity to get things moving and get a Kmart and full line Bunnings store in the shire.

“If we look at Traralgon, it hasn’t been to the detriment of their CBD. With the development of this site and others, it could being people into town and it will stop the dollar leakage from the town,” he said.

Cr Mikaela Power said there was overwhelming support for this in the community, and frustration over a site closer to the CBD where nothing is happening.

“I have no doubt Dan Murphy’s will come at some stage,” she said.

Mayor Joe Gauci said a retail project of this scale would offer more diverse, innovative, accessible shopping opportunities that our growing community wants and needs.

“Access to retail has been a sore spot for our community for some time now. Historically, council has been viewed as preventing any such developments from proceeding, but this simply isn’t the case.

“Council has been a strong advocate for more large-scale retail in the shire, but ultimately, without a keen developer and lease agreements in place, there was little in our power to make this happen.

“This new development is welcome news and we are committed to doing all that we can to see the project over the line,” he said.

Council’s letter of support to the minister is expected to be sent this week.