HIGHPOINT shopping centre in Maribyrnong is a fortnight away from unveiling the first stage of its $300 million redevelopment.
About 500 construction workers are racing against time to put the finishing touches on stage one — a high stakes gamble on fresh food drawing shoppers to the expanded centre.
The revamp adds 30,000 square metres to the centre and secures Highpoint’s claim of being the second-largest shopping centre in the southern hemisphere, behind only Chadstone.
Up to 2000 new jobs will also be created.
The fresh food market is anchored by a new 4200-square-metre Woolworths store and features 15 specialty fresh food stores, including a fruit and vegetable market, Asian grocer, butcher and baker. An extra 1000 parking spaces will take the centre’s total to 7000.
On a tour of the site last week, the Weekly was assured work was on track for the October 18 grand opening.
Development manager Mark Pheely said the newly designed wing was far removed from traditional shopping centre design. “There’s a lot of natural light, a blurring of inside and outside.”
Mr Pheely said increased use of natural light and louvred windows would reduce energy use by more than 56 per cent.
Rainwater will be harvested and electronic ‘smart park’ technology will guide drivers to free spaces to reduce the amount of time cars spend circling around the car park.
Mr Pheely acknowledged the expansion to 520 stores was risky at a time of retail turmoil but said tenancy take-up rates were on track.
“The landscape has changed since we began planning this, but we are confident about the long-term prospects.”
He said about 4200 people had worked on the reconstruction and an extra 2000 people would be employed as a result of the expansion.
Centre manager Scott Crellin said he looked forward to taking over management once the project was unveiled. “I think this is something the community will embrace.”
