Woolworths’ initial redevelopment concept for Hawker Village. Image: Woolworths.
Woolworths is investigating the viability of adding housing to a new direct sale proposal to redevelop the Hawker shops.
This is a response to the ACT Government’s rejection in March of its initial application to purchase and consolidate public blocks, including the carpark, to build a two-storey redevelopment that would include a larger supermarket, new shops, offices, basement parking, and an improved playground.
Planning Minister Chris Steel left the door open for a new application but told Woolworths that shop-top housing needed to be part of any redevelopment to meet government strategic objectives for group centres and its 2024 election commitment to an additional 30,000 dwellings by 2030.
Woolworths director of property Andrew Loveday confirmed to a Legislative Committee on Thursday (28 August) that the supermarket giant still wanted to proceed with a redevelopment of its Metro store by acquiring seven parcels of public land.
Mr Loveday said housing would be part of any new application.
“Any development that we start will be subject to a rigorous planning process through a development application and so forth, and as part of that, we’re willing to consider housing on the site,” he said.
Mr Loveday said Woolworths would work with the government to determine what uses, including housing, were feasible.
He said if the direct sale were approved, a development application would require far more detail and further community consultation.
It would not be the first time Woolworths has included housing in its redevelopment projects.
Mr Loveday said Woolworths had a number of sites with housing across the country, including a proposal at Moncrieff in Gungahlin on land it had tendered for.
The Environment and Planning Committee is investigating the Hawker shops proposal in response to a petition from community members.
The inquiry has received 70 submissions, including from The Friends of Hawker Village, Belconnen Community Council and Belconnen Way Hotel.
There is consensus that the shops are tired and in need of a refresh, but the committee aired concerns about the direct sale process, parking, access and mobility, the need for a full-line supermarket, and the size of Woolworths’ proposal.
Hawker Village is tired and in need of a refresh. Photo: CBRE.
Mr Loveday said the direct sale process offered the opportunity for a precinct-scale redevelopment rather than the fragmented approach that would result from an open tender on unoccupied land.
He said independent land valuations should allay concerns that the government would not get the best return from a direct sale.
Customer feedback indicated that the Metro store needed a refresh and was not meeting community needs, as many people used it primarily for top-up shops and drove to the full-line supermarkets in the town centre, Mr Loveday said.
“Having a supermarket that’s closer to the customer from our perspective is really important,” he said.
Woolworths’ own population studies showed the area could support a full-line supermarket.
Mr Loveday said there was strong demand for a full-line supermarket in the central Hawker area and up to three stores in a broader catchment.
He said Woolworths was not like other developers in that it was there for the long haul, and it was in its interest to develop a centre that worked for the community.
“When we look at developing a shopping centre, we don’t just look at what’s the right outcome for the supermarket,” he said.
“We actually look at the right outcome for that centre in that community and make sure that we invest in all of those things that you’ve mentioned: good car parking, good accessibility, good urban design, as well as really good convenience for all customers, more patrons, and all of the other retailers that are going to be supplementary to or part of the development as well.”
Asked about other traders, Mr Loveday said a successful centre relied on other retailers and services, not just the supermarket.
“A successful supermarket at Hawker is actually going to be part of a really successful centre,” Mr Loveday said.
He said the current parking numbers would be replaced in the basement, with more added outside.
There were concerns from the hotel owner that the redevelopment would block access for guests, but Mr Loveday said that critical access points and pathways to all adjacent properties would be addressed in the more detailed design and planning phase.
Mr Steel told the committee that the City and Environment Directorate technical studies on the Hawker site were continuing and would inform the government’s assessment of any new Woolworths application and land uses there.
The redevelopment proposal will involve the demolition of the current supermarket and the buildings between it and Hawker Place.
