UPDATE: 1.30PM
All community information sessions have been postponed due to availability of venues.
Engagement and communications agency Struber will provide details of an updated date and venue shortly.
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Woolworths Group has lodged a development application with Maribyrnong council for a supermarket, speciality retail, a childcare and medical centre, a commercial space and basement parking in West Footscray.
Located at 495-507 Barkly Street, the proposed development would include a Woolworths supermarket and BWS store and about 270 car parking spaces, with a proposed building height of two storeys and with two levels of underground car parking.
The development would also include a gymnasium and a 1000-square-metre childcare centre.
Woolworths has scheduled two community information sessions at 540 on Barkly at 540 Barkly Street on Tuesday, March 14 and Thursday, March 16 from 4.30pm to 7.30pm.
Maidstone and West Footscray Residents Action Group [MAWFRAG] facilitator Pierre Vairo said the development would risk lessening the benefits of the proposed Barkly Street streetscape improvements.
“Maribyrnong Council’s popular plan to reduce the number of cars travelling on Barkly Street, in favour of encouraging residents to use improved foot and bike paths, is at risk if Woolworths’ plan goes ahead,” he said.
“The new shopping centre will lead to a large increase in the number of cars and trucks in the village.
“The requirement for a new intersection for the shopping centre will also prevent council from constructing wider footpaths, safe bikelanes & better bus stops.”
Mr Vairo said large-scale shopping centres like the proposed development were known to be detrimental to the health of shopping strips.
“Some have expressed a desire for more supermarket choices in the area,” he said.
“However, it’s important to remember that this isn’t a Woolworths Metro like in Yarraville, it’s a full-line Woolworths inside a shopping centre.”
Details: woolworthswestfootscray.com.au
