Sanctuary Lakes Shopping Centre has been given the green light for expansion plans that were twice knocked back by Wyndham council.
The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal has approved the shopping centre’s plans to add 1915 square metres of floor space, including expansion of the existing Coles store to transform it into a full-line supermarket and space for a new medical centre, convenience restaurant, retail and offices.
Wyndham council rejected the plans in September last year and again in March this year because the shopping centre plans included a full carparking waiver.
Planning requirements for an expansion of such size would usually require the applicant to add 158 carparking spaces.
VCAT backed the findings of traffic engineer Stephen Hunt, appearing for the developer, who concluded that, post-expansion, there would still be 62 surplus on-site parking spaces at the centre during peak periods.
Sanctuary Lakes Shopping Centre development manager Matt Rogan said the expansion would go out to tender shortly, with construction likely to begin in the new year and the project complete by June next year.
Mr Rogan said the lengthy planning approval process had delayed the expansion by about six months.
“There’s no shortage of retailers wanting to get into Point Cook, but … delays – in terms of getting the plans ready and going through the planning phases with council and then getting it built – is frustrating for most retailers.
“They want it to happen a little bit faster than what it has, and most couldn’t follow what the reasons for the delays were – it just wasn’t required.”
