WORK on an expanded supermarket in Goulburn’s CBD is expected to be finished by Christmas.
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Aldi is acting on plans approved by Council more than two years ago to expand its operations.
Local firm ARW Multigroup is undertaking the work.
The project, earlier estimated to be worth $2 million, involves partial demolition of the former Ageing, Disability and Home Care building in southern Auburn St, at the supermarket’s rear.
This will facilitate a 337 square metre extension of retail space, set 1.5 metres below the main street.
The development also includes construction of 13 serviced studio-style apartments on the first floor.
Council approved the plans in August, 2012 and at that time construction was expected to begin immediately for an early 2013 opening.
Steve Lacey, asset manager with A&A Lederer, which owns the building, said Aldi was now reacting to the local market.
“Aldi has recognised that the demand is there and across the board it is expanding a number of supermarkets in Sydney,” he said.
The project will also create an additional 164sqm shop on the development’s northern aspect, not associated with Aldi.
Mr Lacey anticipated completion before Christmas.
The supermarket, set near the Marketplace mall, has already added a liquor sales area.
Its expansion was approved shortly after A&A Lederer lodged plans for a $28m revamp of Marketplace, 12 specialty stores, an underground car park and partial closure of Verner St.
That proposal was subsequently withdrawn amid a barrage of public objection about the street’s closure.
Mr Lacey said on Thursday the company had no immediate plans to resurrect the project.
Asked whether there was sufficient demand to justify another expanded supermarket, as Woolworths had wanted, Mr Lacey said the supermarket could always reconsider its position “when appropriate.”
A&A Lederer also owns the former Mazda caryard in the Marketplace precinct is not planning to develop the land at this stage.
Meantime, Mr Lacey expects a healthy response to the studio apartments in the Auburn St project.
“I hope they will be taken up quickly,” he said.
“I think there’s strong demand for three star plus accommodation in Goulburn that is close to the CBD.”
The accommodation will add to that approved within the $17m redevelopment of the nearby former Marian College site.
Developer Nicholas Daoud will build 96 serviced apartments in a four-storey structure facing Clinton St and 17 residential villas on the site’s northern side.