Eddie Russell
Plans to build a Westfield shopping centre in Mt Atkinson have been abandoned, leaving locals in the lurch on “desperately needed” facilities.
The retail destination was meant to sit in the heart of the 30-hectare town centre and act as a commercial hub for the 12,000 residents in Mt Atkinson and Deanside.
A spokesperson from Scentre Group, who own and operate all Westfield’s in Australia, said the deal fell through due to a lack of feasibility for the company.
“We had explored this potential opportunity with Mount Atkinson Holdings for a significant period of time and could not reach an agreement that we believe would deliver a commercially viable project for Scentre Group,” the spokesperson said.
It is a major setback for locals, who can spend an hour commuting on Hopkins Road or the Western Freeway just to get groceries.
However, residents like Lavan Ruben are staying positive about the future.
“There is a business case for someone to come and join us down the track,” he said.
“It’s palatable to private investment – with tens of thousands of residents in neighbouring estates, as soon as shops come we will be spending there.”
Mr Ruben conceded the situation was “not ideal” and said homeowners were angered by the backflip.
“I’m frustrated – that’s the sentiment. Some people were convinced that it [Westfield] was coming,” he said.
“And why wouldn’t they be? There’s prominent signage everywhere … it’s unconscionable, in a moral sense, that all this branding was used.”
The area around the proposed town centre site is still plastered with Westfield logos.
Mensch Investments is part of the Mt Atkinson Holdings group, who own the Mt Atkinson Town Centre.
In a statement on September 11, it said it “remain committed” to the growth of the estate, including funding “roads and utilities” to “enable the activation of the town centre”.
Despite Scentre Group’s decision to pull out, Mensch insisted that it will work with stakeholders, including Melton council, to approve plans for the town centre.
A spokesperson from developers of the estate, Stockland, said the company acknowledged the concerns of the community and would do what it could to help.
“We will continue to collaborate closely with all relevant stakeholders to support the planning and delivery of the future Mt Atkinson Town Centre,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Ruben said he hoped someone could “move and shake” to attract private investment in the area.
