Victoria’s planning minister has approved the rezoning of land on Warragul’s Hazel Drive, paving the way for more major retail developments on the edge of town.
The approval, announced on Thursday, has been greeted enthusiastically by the Baw Baw Shire Council.
In a statement, a council spokesperson said Baw Baw was now able “to consider development applications for major retail outlets at the site.”
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“Council has been in discussions with a prospective developer for some time with Kmart and Bunnings as confirmed tenants. Council anticipates a planning application for the development to be submitted in the near future.”
The council even quoted a Facebook poll conducted earlier this year, saying “97 per cent of the 2,750 respondents were in support of a discount department store in Warragul.”
“We’ve been advocating for this type of development for some time and it’s great that we are now able to progress conversations with developers and bring more diverse shopping to our shire,” Baw Baw mayor Joe Gauci said in a media release.
Previous coverage: Big box retail plan for Warragul’s east
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“Our community has been crying out for this type of retail development, but without appropriate land and zoning it’s been difficult to get prospective developers onside. Now that the appropriate zoning is in place, we have the green light to accept applications for more retail development and help make this happen.
“This is not about taking business away from the Warragul CBD, this is about redirecting discount department store spending that is currently directed outside the catchment to stores in Moe, Morwell and Pakenham.
“It provides our growing community with local jobs and better options for shopping and keeping jobs and spending locally.
“The development plans that we have already seen propose the equivalent of over 260 direct full-time jobs, and even more during the construction phase.
“The ongoing retail employment opportunities would be particularly important for young people, who often must travel outside Warragul to access employment positions.”
Fix the traffic and parking issues first.
We could have had it in the town centre had any development been progressed on the old milk factory site.
This is awesome news
Brilliant about time. Just think of all the driving local people will save and the reduction in the carbon footprint by not having to drive many kms for basic items not available in the town. Can’t wait. Hope one of supermarkets move out from the over crowded car parking in town to a out of town location too. Trying to park close to the supermarkets when doing a large shop is getting harder and harder particularly at peak times.
While I certainly don’t object to progress in Warragul – I detest the disheveled, nonsensical way it has happened or failed to happen. We can’t have a shopping mall or even a natural extension of the current CBD on the milk factory site because the council want other people to spend their money on this ridiculous town master plan. Seriously, look it up, it’s effectively a wish list. I have no doubt that old man Turner shares a lot of blame for this, but after all this time and money, the council have completely failed us.
Instead, we get complete garbage – tilt slab big box nonsense and petrol stations with fast food outlets. Great. Between the tired stores in poorly maintained buildings and the cruddy eyesores that are Coles and the Safeway carpark, it’s a miracle the handful of progressive and successful businesses in Warragul with an eye on the ball for what people want manage to thrive.
Demolished housing on Mason Street and zero development on the site.
Millions of dollars on a street scape makeover when the roads just around the corner are STILL in disrepair. Still no bloody parking.
Millions of dollars on an arts center and the biggest events in the programs are bloody school plays.
A football field built across the road from… a football field.
It seems we have a parasitic council who will happily take money hand over fist from any residential or commercial developer and offer us nothing in return.