Artists impression of the proposed City Walk at the Coomera Town Centre

THE Coomera Town Centre’s massive retail heart could be open by 2013.

Westfield, the key player in the long-awaited $1 billion precinct, will lodge a development application for its shopping centre in the second half of 2011.

Westfield spokeswoman Julia Clarke said the application would be lodged ‘some time after the middle of next year’, but she did not want to speculate on when construction would start despite Myer stating previously that it could be open in 2013.

Westfield spokeswoman Julia Clarke said the application would be lodged ‘some time after the middle of next year’, but she did not want to speculate on when construction would start despite Myer stating previously that it could be open in 2013.

“Timing is all based on the planning process, and we have no say over how long it takes to determine a development application,” she said.

But Councillor Peter Young, who chairs the Sustainable City Future Committee, said Westfield’s timetable for lodging its DA meant the retail heart could, subject to the company’s commercial imperatives, be under construction by 2012 with completion in 2013.

Cr Young said the extensive planning that had gone into the Coomera Town Centre would pave the way for a smoother and swifter approval process.

“The hard work has been done getting all the planning right,” he said.

“All the effort has been upfront.”

Westfield, in partnership with Queensland Investment Corporation, owns a 35ha site on Foxwell Road where it is progressing plans for a shopping centre that is to include a Myer department store.

Ms Clarke said major retailers had shown a strong level of interest in the centre.

Aside from Myer the shopping centre is expected to feature two discount department stores, two supermarkets, up to 10 ‘mini majors’ and 150 specialty shops, potentially making it the city’s biggest retail complex.

Last week the State Government approved a structure plan for the Coomera Town Centre, which has been in the pipeline for the past 20 years.

Coomera Town Centre will be a transport-oriented CBD similar to Robina that will take shape on land surrounding Coomera train station and Foxwell Road.

In addition to the shopping centre, there will be high-density housing, educational facilities and a new hospital.

Original Article in the Gold Coast Bulletin by Tracey McBean   |  September 18th, 2010