A key tenant for a proposed commercial complex in Kiama is set to be revealed shortly, according to Mayor Brian Petschler.
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Kiama council’s Akuna Street car park has long been identified as the council’s preferred location for a second supermarket in Kiama.
In recent years the council has spent almost $7 million buying up property surrounding the car park and the council has prepared concept plans for what a proposed development on the site could look like.
In May, Cr Petschler said he was not in a position to name the potential key tenant due to commercial in-confidence, however he said an agreement had been reached subject to some “minor issues” such as staff car parking.
‘‘I’m confident the issues can be addressed...once that is sorted the site will be offered for sale with the commitment from the key tenant,’’ Cr Petschler said at the time.
He also said then that the sale would include the former Weston & Co Publishing’s property in Shoalhaven Street, but not involve the recently purchased Mitre 10 site, which Cr Petschler said was ‘‘a longer term strategic site’’.
Earlier this week, Cr Petschler said council hoped to be in a position to “see some publicity occur” shortly regarding the Westonprint site and car park.
“We hope to be in a position to say something publicly in the next week or so, which will indicate a key tenant that’s likely to be in the development that will occur there,” he said.
“Then we can go and get a developer to develop it.”
Council resolved in February to prepare a masterplan for the Akuna Street precinct.
The purpose of the masterplan was to look at the options for the use of council owned property in Akuna Street, public car parking provision, pedestrian access between Akuna and Terralong streets and community involvement.
In September, council deferred the appointment of consultants to commence a masterplan to enable additional input by the LEP Review Committee and the Economic Development Committee.
The Akuna Street precinct was therefore the subject of two agenda items at Tuesday night’s council meeting.
Council’s Economic Development Committee made recommendations for council’s consideration regarding the Akuna Street Masterplan.
According to a report to the council meeting, the brief for the Akuna Street Masterplan was circulated to the committee and comments communicated back to council.
“The committee was of the strong opinion that any master planning of this precinct should not be undertaken in isolation, but as part of a broader strategy for town centre revitalisation to ensure that the current controls are meeting the development need while enhancing the overall character of the town centre,” the report said.
The committee therefore recommended that the Akuna Street Masterplan be considered in conjunction with a review of the Kiama Town Centre DCP, which council agreed to do.
The report to Tuesday night’s meeting advised council of the additional scoping for the masterplan as requested by the respective committees and recommended that the masterplan proceed as a Kiama Town Centre study.
At the meeting, councillors endorsed a recommendation that council seek to appoint appropriate consultants to undertake a masterplan for the Kiama Town Centre incorporating the Akuna Street precinct, and incorporating the matters raised by the Shoalhaven Street Working Party, LEP review Committee and Economic Development Committee.
Cr Petschler said council would address issues relating to the need for car parking and commercial development connectivity to the main street.
“Hopefully we’ll get out of that plan when it comes to fruition some guidelines for future development in the whole area,” he said.
“It’s really now looking more at Akuna Street being a key part of the town centre DCP.”
Earlier this year, councillor Andrew Sloan called for more community consultation over the future of the Akuna Street precinct.
He said while a masterplan would not impact on the concept plan for the development, which includes a 2000-square-metre supermarket, 14 speciality shops and 30 residential, there would still be opportunities for the two to work together.