Green Hills development brings jobs to Hunter
Stockland Green Hills today hosted an official ground breaking event to celebrate the $372 million shopping centre redevelopment and expansion at East Maitland in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales.
Today’s event signified the start of major construction activity at Green Hills, which will continue over the next two years, creating thousands of new jobs for the Maitland community.
Stockland Green Hills will more than double in size to around 70,000 square metres, featuring the first new format David Jones department store in the Hunter, as well as a new JB Hi-Fi Home store and a new Harris Scarfe department store.
The expanded centre will also feature more than 225 specialty shops and a vibrant new dining and entertainment precinct that will be the biggest and best in the region.
Stockland Group Executive & CEO of Commercial Property, John Schroder, was today joined onsite by the Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, Member for Hunter, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs; Jenny Aitchison MP, Member for Maitland; and Mayor of Maitland Councillor Peter Blackmore OAM, to celebrate the start of major construction.
Mr Schroder said: “Today marks the beginning of an exciting new era for the Hunter region. Our $372 million redevelopment will create 1,350 jobs during construction, and more than 1,250 permanent full time retail and hospitality jobs once completed. This takes Green Hills from strength to strength to ensure it becomes an absolute powerhouse for the greater regional economy.”
“Stockland Green Hills is currently one of the best performing sub-regional shopping centres in Australia and we absolutely want to carry this momentum through development as we work to fulfil our vision of creating the most vibrant, thriving shopping, leisure and entertainment destination that will be the pride of the Hunter.
“In addition to increasing its standing at the centre of the local community, Stockland Green Hills will draw customers from the Upper Hunter, Newcastle and the North Coast,” Mr Schroder said.
As another mark of the company’s commitment to the future of the community, Stockland will establish a connectivity and training centre with our construction partners Brookfield Multiplex, focusing on giving young people pathways into jobs and training in construction and retail in the long term.
The Hon. Joel Fitzgibbon MP, said: “I am pleased to see Stockland continue its long-term investment in the Hunter. The expanded Stockland Green Hills will set a gold standard for retail in the Hunter region. It is great to see the strong focus on local job opportunities and employment training in construction, retail and hospitality. This is a great win for the community.”
Jenny Aitchison MP, Member for Maitland, said: “I am delighted to see the Stockland Green Hills redevelopment get underway, especially because of the thousands of new construction and permanent retail jobs it will create for the Maitland community. This is one of the fastest growing areas of New South Wales, and I’m pleased to see the investment in creating a vibrant community hub that will service our increasing population.”
Maitland Mayor Councillor Peter Blackmore OAM said: “This is an exciting day for our community and the surrounding region. Not only is this project providing the people of Maitland with more great shopping options, but it is generating thousands of jobs during construction and even more once it opens. I am looking forward to seeing the development take shape.”
The new bigger and better Stockland Green Hills will also include Big W and a new format Target with its latest products and customer service innovations. Stockland will also develop a new Dan Murphy’s store in the trade area and add 140 new speciality stores into the mix.
The centre’s existing supermarkets and mini-majors will be retained and improved as part of the development process, including Woolworths, Coles, Best & Less, Blooms the Chemist and Hot Dollar.
Stockland will also add an expanded restaurant and leisure precinct, a new indoor-outdoor casual dining precinct, expanded fresh food offering and provide approximately 3,100 car parking spaces.
The redevelopment and expansion of Stockland Green Hills will involve a series of three carefully scheduled and controlled stages of works over the course of two and a half years. Stockland commenced Stage 1 works on 11 January 2016, and today officially marked the start of major construction, following an initial eight week period diverting utility services and undertaking some demolition work. Practical completion is scheduled for mid-2018.
John Schroder added: “There’s an incredible buzz around the future of this shopping centre, and we cannot wait to deliver the most comprehensive and exciting shopping centre in the Hunter trade area. We will continue to keep our customers and retailers up-to-date on what to expect during every stage of the project.”
On completion, the 70,000 square metre centre will feature:
- A new David Jones department store
- Two full-line supermarkets: Woolworths and Coles
- Two full-line discount department stores: Big W and a new Target
- 16 mini-majors
- More than 225 specialty retailers, comprising in-line shops and kiosks
- An expanded restaurant and leisure precinct
- A new, indoor-outdoor casual dining precinct and an expanded fresh food offering
- Approximately 3,100 car parking spaces.
