PLANS have been unveiled for a new $6 million retail centre on a controversial site next to Mildura’s biggest and newest car yard.
Sunraysia Daily can exclusively reveal the proposal to put 18 shops and a car showroom in the complex at the corner of Fifteenth Street and Cowra Avenue where a separate development application was knocked back last year after a backlash from residents.
Developer Garry Davison, who has lodged the latest plan with Mildura Rural City Council, said his concept was inspired by similar projects in Melbourne.
“You see them in and around the city down there,” Mr Davison said.
“(The shops and showroom) will be for lease and for sale – and we’ve already got two on hold for it.
“So there’s already interest in the site and I think this is something that will be good for retail in Mildura.”
Mr Davison concedes there will probably be opposition from residents to his plan for a new complex, which, if approved, would sit next to the motor dealership he opened early this year.
“It’ll be interesting if there are any objections to it, given the history of this site, but we’ve done everything right in this plan,” he said.
“It’s all zoned right. We’ve ticked every box for the requirements on this piece of land.”
The last project to be rejected at the site came in early 2019, when plans for an APCO service station with a 24-hour restaurant were road-blocked following 22 objections over noise, safety, pollution and planning concerns.
The architect for Mr Davison’s new development is also confident all the planning requirements have been met for the new retail centre.
“This is a complex that won’t be out of place in this area,” said Geoff Sparkes, of GSD Architects, who has been working on projects with Mr Davison for nearly 40 years.
“There are prospective tenants for it and it will be a business boost for Mildura.”
The shops will each be about 400 sq m and the additional car showroom is slated to be 735 sq m.
Mr Davison’s other big project, a mixed-use development on the corner of Deakin Avenue and Ninth Street, is due for completion in April.
