Mt. Atkinson Town Centre Update

We recognise how important the future Mt Atkinson Town Centre is to the community. While Stockland is not the developer of the Town Centre or the owner of the Town Centre land, we remain committed to keeping you informed.

In September 2024, Stockland was advised by the Town Centre landowner that the Town Centre developer had chosen to terminate its agreement to be the Development Manager of the Town Centre.

We have been advised that significant progress has already been made on the Urban Design Framework (UDF) for the Town Centre. The landowner holds the rights to the work completed so far and is working towards finalising and submitting the UDF to Council next month.

The landowner has expressed their commitment to realising the vision for the Mt Atkinson Town Centre in line with the prepared UDF. Their focus is to commence Stage 1 of the Town Centre as soon as possible, following the necessary approvals from Council and Authorities.

Stage 1 of the Town Centre is envisaged to deliver approximately 8,000 square metres of retail space, including a major supermarket and specialty stores, consistent with what was proposed by the previous Town Centre developer. The landowner has advised that their priority is to get Stage 1 of the Town Centre on the ground and open for trading as soon as possible, with construction anticipated to start in 2025 (subject to approvals) to enable the Centre to open in 2027 (subject to unforeseen delays).

Stockland is committed to working closely with all stakeholders to support the planning and staged delivery of the Mt Atkinson Town Centre, where possible.

FAQ

Why did the previous Town Centre developer decide not to proceed as the Development Manager, and what is the likelihood that they will rejoin the project?  

In September 2024, Stockland was informed by the Town Centre landowner that the previous Town Centre developer had chosen to terminate their development agreement and was no longer proceeding as Development Manager. While Stockland is not privy to the specific commercial reasons behind this decision, we recognise that developments and property are often the subject of changes to ownership, structure and management.
At this time, based on the information available, there is no indication that the previous developer intends to rejoin the project. However, the landowner has expressed their commitment to continue moving forward with the Town Centre’s planning and approvals, with  Stage 1 construction anticipated to start in 2025 (subject to approvals) to enable the Centre to open in 2027 (subject to unforeseen delays).

What amenities can we expect in the future Mt. Atkinson Town Centre?   

The vision for the Mt. Atkinson Town Centre remains consistent with what is outlined in the Mt. Atkinson and Tarneit Plains Precinct Plan (PSP). The vision for this ‘Major Town Centre’ as set out in the PSP and the prepared UDF is still anticipated to provide a comprehensive range of amenities—including supermarkets, retail, dining, and community services.   
Additionally, the landowner has confirmed that Stage 1 of the Town Centre is envisaged to deliver approximately 8,000 square metres of retail space, including a major supermarket and specialty stores.

How will Stockland ensure that the future Mt. Atkinson Town Centre is delivered without further delays?  

The Town Centre landowner has confirmed that significant progress has already been made on the Urban Design Framework (UDF) for the Mt Atkinson Town Centre under the previous developer. Importantly, the landowner has at all times been involved and continues to retain the rights and control over this completed work and is engaged and committed to finalizing the UDF with Council as a priority. 
The delivery of the Town Centre is a multi-stage process that will occur incrementally, based on demand. The next major step is the submission of the UDF to the Melton City Council for approval, a critical milestone before proceeding with detailed planning and development approvals for Stage 1 of the Town Centre. The landowner is targeting November 2024 for the final UDF submission to Council.
Once approvals are received from Council and relevant authorities, the landowner has advised that they will promptly take the necessary steps to begin the development of Stage 1 of the Town Centre.

What’s happening with the Mt. Atkinson Local Convenience Centre?  

The proposed Mt Atkinson Local Convenience Centre, located on Clara Avenue, has been earmarked in the Mt Atkinson and Tarneit Plains Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) to provide essential goods and services for the local community. This may include retailers, food outlets, medical facilities, and childcare services.
While Stockland is not the owner of the Mt Atkinson Local Convenience Centre land, we are prioritising discussions to support the activation of this site.
The site is currently undergoing an Expression of Interest (EOI) process with potential developers and operators of Local Convenience Centres. Once this process is completed, we will provide a further update.