The Narooma Plaza shopping centre redevelopment was listed by council as one of the major projects around the shire that now has approval.

Narooma Plaza had a DA modification approved by council late last year that allows for a reduction in the number of speciality shops and an increase in the size of the major tenant areas.

Plaza manager Mark Anderson said now that the DA had been approved, they were working through the conditions to satisfy council and achieve the construction certificate. Mr Anderson was now seeking finance for the project and everything lined up then construction could begin later this year.

There were still a few new specialty shops available for leasing and anyone interested should stop by the Narooma Plaza offices. The new Woolworths would be built behind the old and as such Woolies will not miss one day of trading.

Council’s planning and sustainability division meanwhile anticipates that a 30-unit apartment block will start construction on Wharf Road in Batemans Bay this year, in addition to the recently approved upgrade to Bridge Plaza Shopping Centre. 

Other larger developments include approval last year for a five-storey apartment building in Orient Street that will incorporate 10 residential units. This development is currently being marketed so construction could commence in the near future.

These four developments alone represent over $20 million dollars of investment in Eurobodalla.

A 60-lot subdivision at Catalina has also commenced site works and it is anticipated these civil construction works will continue this year.   

This development activity is on the back of recently completed major projects including Bunnings and the new Caltex-Woolworths service station on the highway in Batemans Bay.

Council’s director of Planning and Sustainability, Lindsay Usher said current statistics for development applications for the 2015/16 financial year show an increase in DAs being lodged.

“Current development applications are up 17 per cent on last year’s figures and our processing times remain low at around the 20-25 day range,” he said. “With something like $20 million of development in the pipeline and development applications trending up, the news for economic development in Eurobodalla appears very positive.”

Mr Usher revealed that council has also had a number of preliminary discussions about larger developments, currently commercial in confidence, that will be beneficial for the local economy if they proceed.