Mountain Creek shopping centre opens in June
Tue 16 May 2006
Amy Taylor, Journalism
A new shopping centre in Mountain Creek is receiving mixed reactions from the local community.
The Mountain Creek Shopping Centre is expected to be completed and open to the public by June 24, 2006, Domaine Property Funds acquisition and development manager Nick Kennedy said recently.
The $19 million centre on Karawatha Drive will reach final stages of construction in coming weeks and will be anchored by business giant Woolworths.
Mr Kennedy said the centre would include a Woolworths Petrol Plus outlet and 12 specialty retail shops.
“The centre is being developed by Consolidated Properties on behalf of Domaine Property Funds, who bought the property in August last year,” Mr Kennedy said.
Maroochy Shire Councillor Steve Dickson said he had voted in favour of the development about three years ago.
“What we’re looking at is having shopping centres in local areas so people can physically walk,” Cr Dickson said.
“There is a large number of residences in the area – it’s about catering for the needs of a high growth area.”
Mr Kennedy said leasing was going well with nine of the 12 tenancies already committed.
“So far a hairdresser, pharmacy, newsagency, butcher, baker, bottle-shop and discount department store are committed and it’s envisaged that a hardware shop and café and fruit and veg operator will take the remaining tenancies.”
The centre has received mixed reactions from the community.
“We had numerous letters in support received at council – I think about as many for as against,” Cr Dickson said.
Mountain Creek Convenience Store operator Eileen Smith said she had worked at the small Mountain Creek Shopping Complex on Karawatha Drive for about six and a half years.
“I think the Mountain Creek that used to be here will be no longer… when the developers say it’s a growing area it’s bull. It’s done. It’s grown. There is no more room,” she said.
“The only ones that want it [the centre] are the retirement village… there were a lot of demonstrations against it - I know in this shop alone we had 6000 signatures against it.”
Jack Freeman of Mountain Creek Meats has decided to move his business into the new centre.
“You have to be where the main thoroughfare of traffic is... where the public is. I think you just have to go with the times,” he said.
“From what I’ve heard the local community can’t wait for it to open. But of course it is going to affect some small business owners… 50 years ago when supermarkets opened they affected small businesses and it’s the same today, but you just have to go with the flow.”
Cr Dickson said although he thought the centre would increase traffic in the area, it would hopefully reduce traffic congestion in the neighbouring suburb of Buderim.
“We’ve already had a huge increase in traffic, and yes it probably will bring more traffic to the area. Buderim has major traffic problems, so hopefully putting this centre in Mountain Creek will alleviate some of those problems… that’s part of the logic we looked at,” he said.
Image(s) designed by N/A