News

GOLD COAST DEVELOPMENT: $30m REVAMP & EXPANSION OF EARLE PLAZA SHOPPING CENTRE

A GIANT nine-screen cinema will be at the heart of a $30 million redevelopment of an ageing Gold Coast shopping centre.

Geon Property, on behalf of Cinemark, will today submit plans to the Gold Coast City Council to revamp and expand the Earle Plaza complex at Nerang and transform it into a modern shopping mecca.

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GEON EYES CITY GROWTH

THE growing interests of Brisbane group Geon Property in Townsville has prompted the firm to appoint a dedicated Townsville property manager. Tracey Martin will oversee the group’s Townsville property portfolio as Geon is set to embark on a major expansion of its retail, health, entertainment and leisure projects.

Ms Martin said she was excited to join such an innovative and dynamic company.

Full article above.

GEON PROPERTY WELCOMES APPROVAL FOR ALBION EXCHANGE STAGE ONE

Geon Property has today welcomed the news of development approval for Stage One of Albion Exchange, Brisbane’s latest Transit-Oriented Development set to revitalise the inner-north.

Geon is delighted with the news, believing this project will provide much-needed transport, retail, accommodation and lifestyle upgrades to the local area, and will bring Albion – one of Brisbane’s fastest growing city-fringe suburbs – to life.

Geon Property Senior Development Manager Tim Rossberg said the approval comes after significant consultation with Council, as well as ongoing discussions with residents, businesses and community groups.

“We would like to thank those who have engaged with us in this process, especially local Councillor David McLachlan, the team at Brisbane City Council, local businesses, and the many members of the public who shared their views,” Mr Rossberg said.

“We are confident that Albion Exchange will truly set the standard for Transit-Oriented Developments in this city, across the state, and across the country.”

With Albion tipped to welcome another 4,000 residents by 2036, the project will support the needs of this growing urban area.

“Albion Exchange is well positioned to become the future heart of Albion, with spaces for recreation, a focus on health and lifestyle services, and a brand-new retail precinct – elements that are currently lacking in the area,” he said.

The approved plans confirm that Albion Exchange will be a precinct characterised by its expansive green and open spaces.

“Green and open spaces are so important in urban areas, and we are proud that the approved design includes 3,691 square metres of public green and open space – covering 61 per cent of the site area,” Mr Rossberg said.

“For those who will call Albion Exchange home, we have also retained a significant amount of communal open space – just under 2,000 square metres – and have reconfigured the building layouts to improve internal circulation and maximise outdoor balcony spaces.”

The approved plans have also been refined to ensure safe and easy access to the site, and to support active transportation.

“Changes include widening stairs and paths, providing larger lifts with capacity for multiple wheelchairs, prams and bikes, and adding more shelter and shade,” Mr Rossberg said.

“The approved plans also enhance cyclist access to and around the precinct, with dedicated resident, employee, commuter and visitor bike parks, and a design that provides seamless integration with the soon-to-be-completed North Brisbane Bikeway.”

Mr Rossberg said 2020 would bring an exciting next stage for the project, with more tenancies to be confirmed and construction on track to commence by the end of the year.

“Geon Property is incredibly proud to be contributing to the vision for Albion, and we are looking forward to seeing Albion Exchange come to life.”

KIDS MAKE BIG SPLASH TO STAY ACTIVE

FOR PE teacher Andrea Lewis, keeping her kids active and getting them outside is extremely important.
Yesterday a new attraction at the Fairfield Homemaker Centre gave her the chance to get her two kids, Claire, 5, and Grace, 2, to do just that. Hundreds of kids were at Summer Splash, an inflatable water park, for its opening day yesterday. “I thought it was a great way to get the kids out of the house and not in front of the TV,” Mrs Lewis said.

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This article is from the January 13 issue of The Townsville Bulletin Digital Edition. To subscribe, visit https://townsvillebulletin.digitaleditions.com.au/

TOWNSVILLE LEADS STATE IN RACE TO TOP OF NEW OLYMPIC CLIMBING SPORT

A Townsville shopping complex better known for selling beds and lighting wilL soon be pumping as the site for Queensland’s first Olympic standard sports climbing centre.

Townsville City Council approved the adrenaline-charged venture for Fairfield Homemaker Centre in Idalia just before Christmas. Geon Property will develop the facility as part of a staged entertainment and recreation component which includes uses not yet approved such as cinemas. National climbing, yoga and fitness group Urban Climb will be the anchor tenant and operate the climbing centre.

Geon Property development manager Tim Rossberg said securing Urban Climb was a coup for the homemaker centre and the city. “It’s exciting for us, particularly in that location. To bring this type of entertainment and recreation to the homemaker centre is a big thing for us,” Mr Rossberg said. “We are still pursuing, as part of a separate application, a cinema as well.”

The Homemaker opened in 2016 with national brands such as Pillow Talk and Beacon, but has expanded with other tenants including Pet Barn, Greencross Vets and World Gym. Urban Centre owner Alex Cox-Taylor said Townsville was an exciting prospect for them because of its history of involvement in the sport.

Shopping centre landlords benefit from changing retail scene – Opportunity knocking

The days of having a big box tenant securing and anchoring the majority of a shopping centre’s area and income – whether it be a supermarket, a discount department store , large format hardware, furniture store, or even a department store – may be numbered.

Recent announcements by some of the country’s largest retailers such as David Jones, Myer, Big W and Target that they will be moving toward a strategy of closing or downsizing non-performing stores will give landlords across Australia more than a few sleepless nights.

Full article above.

PLANNING COURT FINDS IN FAVOUR OF TOWNSVILLE PRIVATE HOSPITAL PROJECT

THE Queensland Planning and Environment Court has found in favour of a $55 million private hospital proceeding on the site of the old Townsville West State School.

Judge Tracy Fantin in Cairns has handed down a decision that the development application by proponents Lautaret Pty Ltd should be approved subject to conditions.

It comes after a legal dispute between Lautaret, which plans to develop the hospital in conjunction with a group of local medical specialists, and the owners of Townsville’s Mater Hospital.

Mater appealed Townsville City Council’s 2017 development approval and the council, along with Lautaret, defended the approval.

Lautaret wants to convert the heritage-listed former school building in Ingham Rd into medical suites and develop a five-storey hospital with 22 overnight beds alongside it. Mater claimed the development did not comply with the city’s planning scheme and risked the viability of existing health services.

PLANS SCALED BACK FOR $750m ALBION EXCHANGE

Queensland property group Geon Property has relodged plans for the initial stage of its ten stage transit-oriented development in Brisbane’s inner-north.

The $750 million Albion Exchange development, which will be delivered over 15 years, will revitalise a 4,900sq m state government-owned development site running adjacent to the existing Albion train station.

In March of last year an agreement was signed between the government and Geon to deliver the upgrades that would be the “anchor of an emerging suburb” and connect the east and west of Albion, currently segregated by the train line.

The original plans for two new multi-level residential towers reaching 30-storeys and 23-storeys with 333 units were later revised down to 25-storeys and 22-storeys with 309 units in April of this year.

Plans have now been relodged for stage one approval with towers reaching 20-storeys and 19-storeys respectively sharing 253 units, with building footprints for each residential tower reduced by up to 10 per cent.

The heights of both towers are now lower than the council-approved 20-storey buildings across Albion Road on the Aveo site.

Geon Property development manager Tim Rossberg told The Urban Developer the design changes had been made following extensive consultation with Brisbane City Council and continued discussions with local residents and businesses.

“The scale of the development has been reduced in line with Council and community feedback,” Rossberg said.

“We had a number of sessions in small and large groups to get feedback from the community and one of the key takeaways was that the locals wants something to happen with over 70 per cent of all submitters supporting the application.”

“There is a genuine feeling in the Albion community that the area has been quite dormant for many years and is in need of renewal.”

Stage one is earmarked as one of the largest stages of the development and includes a public plaza connecting the east and west of Albion Road, a new food and beverage destination, health and wellbeing offerings and boutique retail.

“We looked at the design and rationalised the floor plates and while the smaller buildings mean fewer apartments, we’ve retained a large number of three-bedroom units,” Rossberg said.

“We had a closer look at our basement carparks and reduced the public space slightly to draw out new efficiencies to help better shape this multi-staged project.”

Plans also maintain significant private communal space for residents, comprising 26 per cent of the total site area — exceeding Council’s 5 per cent minimum requirement.

Stage one of the Albion Exchange masterplan also includes a $28.7 million upgrade of transport facilities and access to the Albion Train Station.

Public open space will be reduced slightly to 54 per cent of the stage one site area, providing 3,294sq m of green and open space.

“Geon Property has been shaping the vision for Albion Exchange for almost three years and we look forward to moving towards the next stage of this exciting project,” Rossberg said.

“This is a city shaping project, particularly for the north side of Brisbane with a lot of infrastructure in the works that will connect to the Albion Exchange.”

Geon is aiming to break ground by the second half of 2020 — pending approval — pushing back the commencement timeline to allow for for detailed design and a pre-sale process.

The masterplan for stages two to 10 has also been lodged separately with the Brisbane City Council.

The eventual remaining stages of the development will comprise large format residential, retail and commercial developments, alongside lifestyle facilities and green space.