From the Archives, 1993: Huge expansion for Melbourne’s retail centres

First published in The Age on June 2, 1993

Go-ahead for $500m shops plan

Huge expansion will change the face of Melbourne’s regional shopping centres

In a move that has significantly changed Victorian Government policy on planning and development, the Planning Minister, Mr Rob Maclellan, yesterday approved regional shopping centre developments worth about $500 million.

Retailers, developers, councils and property industry leaders generally welcomed the announcement, under which the Chadstone, Northland and Southland shopping centres will expand by more than 100,000 square metres, or about two per cent of the city’s total retail space.

Chadstone, which will have a 46,000-square-metre expansion, and Northland, which will be extended by 19,000 square metres, are owned by the Gandel Group. The Westfield Group owns Southland, where 42,000 square metres will be added.

The Southland and Chadstone developments will cost about $200 million each and the Northland project about $100 million.

Mr Maclellan said the new projects were also expected to create possibly thousands of new jobs in the construction and retail industries over the next four years.

He said he did not believe the regional centre developments would threaten suburban shopping strips or the retail business of the Central Business District.