RETAIL WARS AT TEN HANDBAGS
The Harbour Town Shopping Centre finally opened in 1999, and set off a dramatic battle for retail supremacy
MORE than a decade of controversy surrounding the Harbour Town shopping centre came to an end in late 1990 when the $100m retail complex finally opened its doors.
The Biggera Waters complex was the third and final major shopping centre added to the Gold Coast in the final decade of the 20th century.
Australia Fair opened to great fanfare in 1990 and expanded steadily while Robina Town Centre’s arrival in 1996 heralded the start of a long-running battle for supremacy with Pacific Fair.
The initial plan, pitched in late 1987, called for an 80ha town centre that would become home to 80,000 people and a shopping centre at its heart.
However, opposition to the project was swift and massive. Then-council planning boss Lex Bell, for one, declared it would “destroy the city’s strategic plan and future planning of the area”.
The National Party government approved the complex two years later, in 1989, but, following that year’s state election, the newly elected Wayne Gossled Labor administration dumped it, declaring there would be “no Russell Hinzestyle National Party rezonings’’.
The decision was overturned in 1994 and planning for the development started.
However, in another twist in late 1997, retail giant Westfield took Harbour Town owner Lewis Land Corporation to the Planning and Environment Court, arguing it did not comply with the definition of a regional shopping centre.
Westfield at the time was trying to have its complex approved at Helensvale and also took the council to court.
Judge Tony Skoien ruled against Westfield and cleared the final legal hurdle to allow Harbour Town to be built.
Construction began in mid-1998, with Lewis Land announcing a major point of difference between Harbour Town and the city’s existing shopping complexes – it would be a direct factory outlet.
In February 1999, Westfield faced its own battle as the owners of Australia Fair, Runaway Bay and Robina shopping centres jointly announced plans to try to block Westfield Helensvale through the High Court.
Among those who indicated support for the legal action and indicated plans to join it were the Gold Coast City Council, Dreamworld and Lewis Land.
The latter’s lawyer, Larry Lazarides said: “There have been several hearings by the Planning and Environment Court, but none of them have yet dealt with whether Westfield’s development should be approved.
“This is because the hearings to date have been about various, highly technical legal issues, one of which has now been taken to the High Court.”
The High Court ruled months later that the matter was not important enough for it to deal with and sent the case back to the Planning and Environment Court.
Robina Town Centre exited the action after QIC, Westfield’s co-developer, bought it.
The courts finally allowed Westfield to file a new development application.
As the battle raged on, Harbour Town opened in December 1999.
At the time it was touted as the first purpose-built branddirect shopping centre in Australia.
And on opening day, things were suitably wild.
People climbed the walls and elbowed each other to get at the bargains on offer.
Management, traders and shoppers hailed the opening day as a success.
By 10am the shops were full and busloads of people on tours started arriving.
Lewis Land was suitably delighted by the outcome and its complex becoming a part of the community.
But the legal battle over Westfield Helensvale stretched into the 2000s.
In 2002 the council finally approved the project and the state government was asked to call the shopping centre in to prevent further legal hurdles.
Appeals were immediately lodged by Pacific Fair, Harbour Town, Coomera Waters Estate, Dreamworld, Pacific Pines and the Macquarie Trust.
They were quashed by Local Government Minister Nita Cunningham, who used her discretionary powers to call the centre in and end the half-decade-long legal backand-forth.
Westfield Helensvale finally opened in 2005.
While the other shopping centres lost their bids, the battle led to the competitors throwing millions into upgrading their facilities.
Lewis Land chief Matthew Mccarron told the Bulletin this week: “When we originally developed Harbour Town – Australia’s first outlet centre – Lewis Land faced fierce objections from several competitors who had long-term, undefined growth plans for the northern end of the Gold Coast.
“Despite this opposition, we knew that the outlet concept would be well received by the local community, and provide a uniquely Gold Coast retail experience.”