Shopping At The Docklands May Be Just Like The Suburbs
The Age
Thursday April 4, 2002
The projected 20,000 Docklands residents may be able to flock to big homeware and hardware stores on the weekends, just like their suburban neighbours, under a vision outlined by the Victorian Government yesterday.
Major Projects Minister Peter Batchelor opened new bids for the final waterfront precinct at Docklands, originally the site for the failed $485 million Studio City theme park and studio complex. The 19-hectare site, renamed Waterfront City, is expected to attract development proposals of more than $400 million, with first round offers closing on May 14. Short-listed bidders would be announced mid-year and a preferred developer by the end of the year.
Mr Batchelor said most interest in the site was for a retail complex that would also provide entertainment and activities.
He said the trend in new retail developments was for some interactivity, such as a sports store that had an area to practise basketball.
``There's the potential for it to be like a big suburban shopping centre in the heart of the city."
The precinct is next to the government-backed film studio complex, Central City Studios, and already has approval for a 12-screen cinema complex. The site also provides for the expansion of related film and television industries.
Docklands Authority chief executive John Tabart said the site could sell a mix of goods such as homewares, whitegoods and brand-name clothes, as well as provide areas for outdoor entertainment.
He said ferries and watercraft could dock along the 200 metre frontage to Victoria Harbour.
``It would really be linkage from the water right through to the retail zones," he said. ``It's fun shopping."
MAB Corporation, which has developed the nearby New Quay residential area, has already expressed interest in the site. MAB made an exclusive proposal on the project last year, which was rejected after the Docklands Authority believed it did not satisfy the relevant criteria.
Jones Lang LaSalle, which is offering the site, said unsolicited interest had already come from Asia, Europe and national developers.
EDITORIAL NEWS 14
© 2002 The Age
