Ballina to get $70m homemaker precinct
Gold Coast Bulletin - Friday 7th March 2008
by Tracey McBean - Business Property Editor
Ballina is poised to become a regional retail centre with work on a $70 million homemaker precinct in the seaside town to start this year.
The project, Homeworld Ballina, will be a sister project to the $250 million Homeworld Helensvale which is under construction.
Brisbane-based Macpro Properties is developing both Homeworlds in joint ventures with the respective landowners.
The Ballina project has received application approval from Ballina Shire Council recently.
Macpro managing director Grant McLennan said Homeworld Ballina would add a dedicated showroom and bulky goods precinct to the town’s traditional retail and high street shopping areas.
Macpro’s research and planning process had identified the need for a large-scale homemaker facility offering furniture, electrical, home improvement and other like retailers.
“There has always been a huge hole in northern NSW for this (showroom) kind of usage,” he said. “The closest showroom centres are in Coffs Harbour and Tweed Heads South.”
Mr McLennan said many of the retailers who had committed to space in Homeworld Helensvale had expressed interest in gaining a presence in Ballina.
The centre will have 29,000sqm of floorspace and will be built on an 8ha parcel near the southern entry to Ballina.
It will sit in a plum position next to the southern interchange of the Ballina Bypass, which is expected to be completed in coming years.
The land is held by Ballina businessman Steve Robertson, and Lennox Head developer Neil Holmes is also involved in the joint venture.
Mr McLennan said the centre’s size was equivalent to the town’s three shopping centres combined.
He said Homeworld Ballina would give the region’s shoppers the ability to compare prices for similar products in one location.
“They can get value for money in one location and make a decision on a purchase immediately,” he said.
“National homemaker retailers have now clearly identified the customer’s preference for shopping at larger complexes which offer full comparison shopping with a vast array of retailers, even if it means driving further to do so.”
Mr McLennan said the project would bring more shoppers to Ballina and therefore enhance the town’s other retail offerings.
Site works on Homeworld Ballina will start later in the year with completion expected in early 2010. Tenancy sizes for lease in the centre will range from 200sqm to 8500sqm.
Homeworld Helensvale is under construction on a 20ha parcel that once housed the Oxenford racecourse.
Macpro is developing the 50,000sqm centre with landowner Les Aynsley. Stage one is due for completion mid-year.
Tenants committed to Homeworld Helensvale include Fantastic Furniture, The Good Guys, Clive Anthonys, Barbeques Galore, Aussie Living, Sleepy’s Bedshed, Samsara, Curtain Wonderland, Carpet Court and Rugs-a-million.