Hawaiian looks to East Vic Park

Property group Hawaiian has agreed to fund the preparation of a structure plan to guide the revitalisation of the East Victoria Park town centre.

Hawaiian and the Town of Victoria Park signed a memorandum of understanding last week to create the structure plan, which will outline the first phase of the long-term redevelopment of the town centre, bounded by Albany Highway, Kent, Gloucester, Mooregate and Basinghall streets.

Hawaiian’s strategic involvement in the structure plan is on account of its land holding in the Park Centre shopping centre, and the opportunity to guide the future redevelopment of land around the centre for mixed-use retail, commercial and possibly residential, in consultation with adjoining landowners.

The Park Centre has a gross lettable area of approximately 14,200 square metres and includes major retailers Coles and Target, and 50 specialty stores.
The plan will also consider the redevelopment of key sites such as the John MacMillan Park, Town Library and Community Recreation Centre, Bowling Club, and the Sussex Street Law Centre for civic, cultural, commercial and residential use.

It is the first time the Town of Victoria Park has entered into such an agreement with a developer, and signals a change in the approach to planning by local councils.

Earlier this year, Hawaiian signed an MOU and donated funds towards the preparation of the Town of Bassendean’s town centre area strategy, which will guide the transformation of land adjacent to Hawaiian’s Bassendean Village shopping centre on West Road.

Hawaiian general manager property development Stuart Duplock said the Victoria Park agreement was a positive move for the both the group and the Victoria Park community.

“Hawaiian will end up with a better shopping centre asset and the community will benefit as well,” Mr Duplock told WA Business News.

“We’ll look at expanding the centre for retail and commercial, and possibly introducing some residential. It is really the first step in what will be a very long process.”

Town of Victoria Park chief executive John Bonker said Hawaiian would not receive any unfair advantages in the future as a result of the agreement, particularly with regard to redeveloping council owned-sites such as the Bowling Club, the Library and the Leisurelife Centre.

“Hawaiian are paying all costs associated with the preparation of the structure plan and the town will pay the costs of studies or works required by the town which are not included as part of the brief,” he said.

Mayor Mick Lee said the structure plan would provide an opportunity for all stakeholders and members of the community to have their say in the redevelopment of the town centre.