A $792 million expansion of Westfield Booragoon, which would make it the state’s largest shopping centre, has been approved by WA’s peak planning body.
A $792 million expansion of Westfield Booragoon, which would make it the state’s largest shopping centre, has been approved by Western Australia’s peak planning body.
The Western Australian Planning Commission has given Scentre Group’s proposal to expand Westfield Booragoon, commonly known as Garden City, the green light at its meeting today.
Scentre Group is proposing to partially demolish the existing shopping centre on Riseley Street and City of Melville library to make way for a 42,081 square metre shopping centre expansion.
The group lodged an application to expand the centre through the state government’s State Development Assessment Unit pathway in 2021, with the project estimated to cost $500 million.
However, Scentre Group has submitted an updated application to the SDAU in late 2022 with estimated costs having escalated to $792 million.
A WAPC report said the applicant had advised the estimated cost has increased due to design changes in addition to labour and material cost escalations.
WAPC chairman David Caddy said the commission was pleased to approve a project of this calibre and was excited to give the green light to the redevelopment of a popular shopping centre.
Mr Caddy said the development could improve the community and expand retail offerings.
The proposed expansion would result in 114,620sqm of net lettable area, shop tenancies ranging from two to three storeys, restaurants and civic space.
The upgraded Westfield Booragoon would topple Westfield Carousel, with 109,753 square metres in gross lettable area, as the state’s largest shopping centre.
Proposed render of Westfield Booragoon expansion. Image: Scentre Group
Urbis senior urban planner Kris Nolan said the proposal would include a large amount of food and beverage tenancies in addition to a landmark childcare centre and medical centres.
Mr Nolan said this represented the evolution of shopping centres into mixed-use precincts.
“The old bit isn’t just going to be left, (there will be) ambiance upgrade with painting and the like,” he said at the meeting.
“Our client’s looking to get to site in the first quarter of next year.”
Scentre Group development director Stewart White said the proposed investment would introduce contemporary dining and entertainment precinct, fresh food experiences and an elevated fashion and retail offer to the area.
“We’re pleased to have received Development Application approval for significant long-term investment opportunities at Westfield Booragoon,” he said.
“We’ve heard from the community features like dining, entertainment and open space are important to them. We’ve incorporated this feedback into our plans.
“For the broader precinct, it will include the creation of a new High Street, to define and connect the Melville City Centre and Wireless Hill Park, additional community and green spaces and improved pedestrian connections so customers can walk to and from the centre at street level.
“Planning is ongoing with details on project commencement and investment to be confirmed following owner approval.”
Scentre Group is also proposing to add 251 car parking bays across new basement, ground and rooftop floor parking.
Project history
Garden City Booragoon was built in 1972 with the latest significant investment to the shopping centre completed in 2000.
Talks about an expansion have been ongoing for about a decade when AMP Capital announced in 2012 that it would invest up to $750 million to upgrade the shopping centre with a plan to increase the 72,000sqm centre to 120,000sqm.
Despite receiving approval to progress the expansion, works were put on hold after Scentre Group acquired a half stake in the precinct from AMP Capital and the centre was rebranded to Westfield Booragoon in 2019.
In 2021, AMP was replaced by Dexus as the investment fund entity that owns the remaining 50 per cent share.
Dexus Wholesale Property Fund manager Michael Sheffield said this was a key planning milestone for Westfield Booragoon.
“The development will reposition the centre as best in class for retail while achieving the fund’s objectives,” he said.
“Our investment to enhance the dining and entertainment, and retail offer, along with additional community amenity, will deliver a compelling experience for the Booragoon community and help create a thriving community for our customers.”
Planning Minister Rita Saffioti said today's approval marked the 20th application to be approved under the SDAU, or Part 17, pathway that aimed to support a pipeline of projects amid COVID-19.
The pathway was introduced as a temporary response in May 2020 but has since been extended to the end of 2023.
"The expansion of the popular and iconic Westfield Booragoon Shopping Centre will create some outstanding new retail opportunities, as well as improve amenity for the local community with the redevelopment’s new leisure, hospitality and entertainment precinct," Ms Saffioti said.
"The project is the latest to be approved through the Part 17 pathway which is helping streamline the assessment of complex, significant projects, injecting significant investment into the State’s economy and creating a pipeline of jobs for Western Australians."
