Toombul Shopping Centre Archives - Page 2 of 3

Toombul Shopping Centre Demolition Approved, Mirvac Commits to Future Retail in Redevelopment Plan

The flood-ravaged Toombul Shopping Centre has been given the green light for demolition, signalling the beginning of a new chapter for the shopping centre in Brisbane’s north.

The demolition process is expected to be a meticulous one, as the derelict structure will be taken down piece by piece rather than through a single blow. The decision comes after the site was left uninhabitable due to extensive flooding in February 2022, leaving lower levels submerged in water, causing severe damage and mould growth.

Mirvac’s development application to demolish all structures on the site was submitted in April 2023, and the Council’s approval on 19th July 2023 now paves the way for the commencement of demolition later this year. The company has not yet disclosed the exact start and completion dates for the demolition.

“We expect demolition to commence later in the year once the considerations noted above have been resolved. We will advise the community when we have a start date. The demolition program is estimated to take approximately 12 months to complete depending on progress and weather conditions,” the company said in a statement.

Before the demolition begins, Mirvac must address several considerations, including the relocation of existing telecommunications towers and coordination with service providers like AirTrain to ensure the safety and efficiency of the demolition work near their infrastructure.

The task presents various complexities and environmental concerns due to the proximity of the creek corridor and residential areas. Mirvac assures the community that they will implement extensive measures to mitigate potential noise, dust, vibration, and traffic impacts.

Toombul’s community will be kept informed throughout the process, with a commitment from Mirvac to minimize impacts on residents and maintain access to nearby roads, bikeways, footpaths, the Kedron Brook bikeway, and the Toombul bus interchange.

What North Brisbane Locals Want

In January 2023, the company had previously sought input from thousands of locals about their preferences for the site’s redevelopment.

“We’re pleased to let you know we received almost 10,000 pieces of incredible feedback that have been carefully considered and will help inform our continued planning for the future of Toombul, along with planning outcomes and commercial considerations,” Mirvac stated.

The company has taken note of three important points from the community:

Shoppers are missing convenient local retail and services.
They want to see retail return to the site as a priority.
The community expects the site to have improved resilience to local flooding.

Respondents also indicated a desire for retail spaces, public green areas, and essential services, such as healthcare. Mirvac has confirmed that these elements will be included in the redesign, along with improved flood mitigation measures.

Mirvac’s vision for the site includes a focus on retail in any future plans. However, specific details, such as the inclusion of a supermarket, theatre, or major retailer, have not been ironed out. Concept plans and a master plan are expected to be made available for community review by the end of 2023.

As the demolition planning progresses, Mirvac pledges to keep the community informed with ongoing updates and provides an option for residents to receive direct email updates about the future demolition program by registering online.

The redevelopment of Toombul Shopping Centre holds the promise of revitalizing the area and providing much-needed retail amenities for the local community. With cautious and diligent planning, Mirvac aims to turn the flood-ravaged site into a vibrant and thriving hub once again.

Follow updates about the redevelopment via the Toombul Renewal official site.

Published 20-July-2023

Building Height Limits to Increase in Toombul, Other Shopping Precincts as Part of Growth Strategy

Did you know that building height limits will increase in Toombul and five other suburban shopping centre precincts, as part of a new Sustainable Growth Strategy being implemented to address the ongoing housing crisis?

The initiatives were announced as part of the city’s plans, which aim to deliver thousands of new homes in areas like Carindale, Chermside, Garden City, Indooroopilly, Toombul, and Toowong.

By potentially increasing the building height limits in these areas, Brisbane City Council hopes to facilitate the construction of more apartments and units near the shopping centres, which already boast significant public transport connections.

In addition to the height limit changes, Brisbane City Council plans to incentivize build-to-rent developments by allowing developers to pay their infrastructure charges over time rather than in one lump sum. This change aims to reduce upfront costs and promote the construction of rental properties, which are in high demand.

Sustainable Growth Strategy Toombul — Photo Credit: BCC

To streamline the approval process for build-to-rent projects, a special unit dedicated to overseeing these developments will be established by Council. The goal is to unlock the potential of various sites across Brisbane that are currently held back due to market conditions.

Furthermore, Council intends to expand residential zones to include previously used commercial areas, thereby increasing housing options. Around 70 hectares across 14 sites in Brisbane have been identified as suitable for mixed-use opportunities.

Mr Schrinner emphasised the importance of balancing housing demand with preserving the character and green space in Brisbane. The new Sustainable Growth Strategy also aims to guide growth toward popular areas, particularly those surrounding the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games venues, whilst protecting the city’s unique lifestyle.

This plan has received praise for opening up more land for high-rise residential development. However, critics argue that the plan falls short of creating more affordable housing.

The Queensland Council of Social Service believes government intervention is necessary to ensure the delivery of social and affordable housing. Urban planners and experts also expressed concerns that the focus on supply and demand principles may not effectively address housing affordability issues.

Published 8-June-2023

Toombul Shopping Centre Update: Mirvac Lodges Plans for Demolition

Mirvac will soon proceed with pulling down the Toombul Shopping Centre more than a year after it was shut down due to severe flooding damage.

In a statement on the Toombul Renewal site, Mirvac announced that it has lodged the development application (DA A006248810) for the demolition. The developer expects the demolition to take place in late 2023 and will span 12 months to complete.

“We will provide updates as our DA progresses, including a demolition start date,” the company announced. “Residents will receive advance notice of the start of works, and ongoing updates thereafter. If you would like to receive direct updates by email about the future demolition program, please register online at toombulrenewal.com/register

Mirvac also said that future plans for the site have yet to be finalised and a masterplan will be out for review by the community at the end of the year. However, speculations point to a possible mixed-use site with a residential precinct.

The company bought Toombul Shopping Centre in 2016 for $223 million and adopted a $35-million upgrade in 2019. The February 2022 flooding, however, brought down the site’s value to $90 million because of the extent of the damage. In May 2022, the company said that the building was beyond repair.

“The Council Planning team will be working closely with Mirvac to assess this application and provide a prompt response. This will allow Mirvac to commence demolition activities as quickly as possible to support renewal of the Toombul site,” Cr Adam Allan, the Council’s City Planning chair said.

Meanwhile, the bus interchange and park and ride will remain open during the demolition, but with safety measures in place.

Published 13-April-2023

Toombul Shopping Centre Redevelopment a Possibility, Community Will Have a Say

Photo Credit: Google Maps

Once plans are ready, community drop-in sessions will be held to provide opportunities for locals to have their say on plans for the redevelopment of Toombul Shopping Centre. This was Mirvac’s commitment after discussing the possibility of rebuilding the flood-damaged northside shopping precinct with local representatives.

Mirvac expects to come out with the redevelopment plans in the second half of 2023 but a concrete timeline has not been outlined just yet, according to MP Leanne Linnard who met with the company’s executives alongside MP Anika Wells in mid-October 2022.

“Mirvac has confirmed … their commitment to retail, green-space, and ongoing access to public transport in any rebuild,” Ms Linnard shared.

“We have also been advised that there will also be opportunities to attend drop-in sessions to provide your direct feedback on what you would like to see at the site.”

A spokesperson from Mirvac also confirmed that they will come up with a community consultation program and keep the public up to date, beginning with the shopping centre’s demolition to prepare for the rebuilding.

Northsiders have been asking Mirvac to reopen Toombul Shopping Centre following the February floods, especially with the approaching holiday season.

However, the damage from the floodwaters has resulted in moulds all over the building. According to reports, Mirvac has begun stripping these moulds, a process which is expected to go on for weeks.

Meanwhile, PRAX Studio has come up with its own masterplan for Toombul Shopping Centre. The company said they are a “stakeholder in the future of Toombul” and thus wanted to engage the developer, Mirvac, by sharing their ideas about the future of the precinct.

“Our masterplan vision for Toombul prioritises the community’s needs and desires while taking maximum advantage of this once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver an open, green and accessible community heart for the enjoyment of future generations,” Prax Studio said.

“By advocating for the community and articulating a vision in which their views a better represented, our vision will contribute to achieving a development outcome that will be an enduring piece of public architecture befitting this wonderful site.”

Mirvac Doubles Payment for Eligible Toombul Shopping Centre Retailers

Some of the embattled shop owners of the flood-ravaged Toombul Shopping Centre will receive a further cash boost after Mirvac announced it will double their payments for eligible small businesses.

Mirvac chief executive Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz said that retailers with an annual turnover of less than $50 million a year will get another three months’ worth of rent payments on top of the three months’ rent payments already promised in June 2022.

Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz said that they have been meeting with these retailers, who communicated their challenging experiences after the February floods that shut down the Toombul Shopping Centre permanently. Mirvac’s decision to terminate the leases placed many of the retailers in debt.

The company determined that it was no longer practical to reinstate the site given its risks of immense flooding. Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz said that the flood caused significant damage to their electricity, electricity, fire and air-conditioning systems, lifts and escalators. Mould has also impacted the shopping centre, which was declared hazardous for people’s health.

Toombul tenants — Meeting with tenants and lawyer Brian Noble
Photo Credit: LeanneLinardMP/Facebook

In June, Cr Adam Allan said that a decision was reached to demolish the existing shopping centre and construct a new one.

“The site is zoned Major Centre zoning under the Brisbane City Plan 2014. This type of zoning provides for a wide range of uses including retail, commercial, residential, entertainment, government, residential care, retirement, and community uses to name some,” Cr Adam sad.

“While Mirvac are only in the early stages of their planning on the future of the site the uses above provide a high level guide of some potential uses.

“There will be some outcomes from the site that Brisbane City Council will be keen to see delivered or retained such as a bus interchange, public space, better connectivity, improved flood resilience, a better interface to Kedron Brook etc

“There will be many discussions between Council’s Development Services team and Mirvac over coming months as their plans for the site are formulated.”

Mirvac Offers Support Package for Toombul Retailers Equivalent to 3 Months’ Rent

Over 100 Toombul retailers are going to receive a support package from Mirvac following its decision to shut down the shopping centre permanently due to flood damage.

Mirvac CEO Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz said that the tenants will be compensated worth three months’ rent, alongside other measures already in place. The company has waived the debts incurred by Toombul retailers during the lockdowns and it has also not charged rent since the February floods.

Tenants have also received assistance with the removal of their fit-outs and stocks as Mirvac plans to demolish the property and rebuild it anew. Mirvac said that they are also in touch with other organizations with free spaces so their former tenants could move in.

The support package is welcome news, after the criticism Mirvac received from the public for their initial announcement of no compensation for tenants. Some retailers have explored legal options in the face of looming financial ruin due to the closure of their businesses at the Toombul Shopping Centre.

Darren Bain, the owner of Function Well, said that their lease has a demolition clause that underscored a “reasonable compensation” but Mirvac said there is another clause stating no compensation for “impracticable or undesirable” repairs.

Prior to the announcement of the support package, Mirvac wasn’t able to attend the scheduled dialogue with the tenants and MPs Anika Wells and Leanne Linard. Ms Wells and Ms Linard have been calling on the property giant to engage with the local community.

Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz said that she has been arranging meetings with the retailers in the coming days and has heard their frustrations.

Ms Lloyd-Hurwitz’s full statement below:

Tenants Still Hoping to Meet With Mirvac Over Planned Demolition of Toombul Shopping Centre

Tenants of Toombul Shopping Centre have expressed disappointment at the cancellation of a requested meeting with Mirvac to discuss previously announced plans to demolish the shopping centre.

The meeting was originally scheduled to take place via Zoom on 7 June 2022. However, not all the Mirvac attendees were available so the meeting did not push through as originally planned

In a statement, MP Leanne Linnard said that she and MP Anika Wells will keep trying to engage with Mirvac for the tenants, who were told that they will not likely receive compensation for losses as a result of the February 2022flood that has rendered the shopping centre too badly damaged.

They have also arranged for the tenants to receive pro bono legal advice on compensation from Brian Noble of Noble Advice. So far, 10 retailers have reached out to discuss the Retail Shop Leases Act.

Prior to the scheduled meeting, Cr Adam Allan stated that Mirvac has decided to completely demolish Toombul Shopping Centre.

“I met with Mirvac executives last week to have an initial discussion about their plans. There will be many discussions between Council’s Development Services team and Mirvac over coming months as their plans for the site are formulated,” Mr Allan said.

“The site is zoned Major Centre zoning under the Brisbane City Plan 2014.

“This type of zoning provides for a wide range of uses including retail, commercial, residential, entertainment, government, residential care, retirement, and community uses to name some.

“While Mirvac are only in the early stages of their planning on the future of the site the uses above provide a high level guide of some potential uses.”

No Rent Collection

Meanwhile, Mirvac said that rents and other expenses were not collected from the traders since the February flood and their debts, including those incurred during the COVID closures, have been waived. The company has also not charged retailers for the cost to de-fit and remove their stocks and store equipment and furniture.

Mirvac also said it has been coordinating with each of the retailers on the ongoing issues at hand.

Some tenants have relocated to other vacant sites in Ascot, Taigum, Stafford, Lutwyche, and Newstead. However, for many locals, Toombul was always the hub where everyone could shop and run errands and where the retailers have become longtime friends.

Electrical Issues Delay Bus Interchange Normal Operations at the Toombul Shopping Centre

The recommissioning of the bus interchange at the Toombul Shopping Centre has been marred with delays and electrical issues on top of the temporary closure of the shopping area.

The Toombul Shopping Centre bus interchange is one of the largest in Brisbane’s northside. Currently, the buses that service the site have been queueing along the busy Sandgate Rd without any shelter or proper seating for commuters, especially during peak hours.

In April 2021, signages were set up to help commuters identify the routes and stops. A few temporary seatings were also in place at the Sandgate Rd centre, where buses 300, 301, 307, 308, 321, 326, 327, 369 and 590 have been bringing commuters to their destinations, especially students from the Australian Catholic University.

However, with existing electrical problems caused by the flooding, the interchange is still unable to provide safe access for the commuters.

Mirvac, the developer, has not given any clear date on when the interchange’s operation will resume to normal. A spokesperson for the shopping centre believes that the interchange, as well as the carpark, have to be closed indefinitely because contractors are still doing critical decontamination works.

While this has inconvenienced Brisbane’s northside community, the safety of the commuters is the priority.

After the February flooding, Mirvac confirmed that Toombul Shopping Centre will be closed for six to eight months of refurbishment. However, may traders believe it will likely be a year before the shopping centre fully reopens without any more issues.

Toombul Shopping Centre Could Take Up to 8 Months Before It Could Reopen

Photo Credit: Leanne Linard MP / Facebook

Initial assessments of the devastation that the recent flooding has caused at Toombul Shopping Centre revealed that many of the 140 shops could remain closed for six to eight months and the cost of rebuilding may force some tenants to close permanently.

“We can confirm the centre and car park are closed and will remain this way for some time. Our specialist consultants have assessed the damage and the initial assessments show that the inundation has caused extensive damage,” the Mirvac statement posted on social media reads.

“This is the worst flood we have seen at Toombul and the impact is devastating, not only for us, but for all our retailers, many of whom are small business owners. Our priority is working with and supporting all our retailers.”

The rain bomb that battered the city for days has hit Toombul Shopping Centre hard, leaving dozens of shops with mud-ruined equipment and stocks. Toombul retailers say that the recent inundation was different from the 2011 flood in that it is the first time that flood water has penetrated the shopping centre’s ground-floor shops.

Mirvac said that it is too early to ascertain when the centre could reopen but estimates a 24- to 32-week window. However, many small retailers fear that they may not be able to afford the cost of rebuilding considering the extent of damage which could mean that they would need to start from scratch.

Some of these tenants do not have insurance either because of the cost or because no insurer was willing to cover flood risk. Other store owners who do have insurance fear that their insurers might classify the event as a flood, making them unqualified to claim for storm damage.

For now, some traders have reopened on temporary premises whilst major shops had employees deployed to other locations. But the closure of the Toombul Shopping Centre not only impacted shop owners but their loyal customers as well who are now forced to shop elsewhere.

To mitigate the impact on Toombul Shopping Centre customers, particularly the elderly shoppers, Council’s cab services have been adjusted to provide other destination options including Westfield Chermside and Lutwyche Shopping Centre. Customers will be advised of the available alternative at the time of booking.

Toombul Shopping Centre was opened in 1967 by Westfield Group and was Brisbane northside’s largest shopping centre then. Mirvac acquired the centre in 2016 and opened Upstairs Toombul, a new dining precinct anchored by Archie Brothers.

Coles Toombul Trials New Dog Food Pick ‘n’ Mix

Supermarket chain Coles is trialing a new method of selling dog food to its customers in Nundah by allowing them to purchase pick ‘n’ mix bags of treats via special snack dispensers.

With the new addition of special pick ‘n’ mix snack dispensers, the Coles branch at the Toombul Shopping Centre allows dog owners to mix and match some of their pet’s favourite treats. Following the pandemic, many Queensland residents found themselves stuck at home. Given the complications that came with spending time with friends and family, people opted to stave off loneliness by taking on canine companions.

As a result, the pet market has boomed, and Coles aims to cater to dog owners by providing them with more convenient ways of purchasing the food and products necessary to keep their pups pampered and happy.

Some of the food items up for grabs at these dispensers include kangaroo tails and crocodile sausages, as well as a variety of training treats to facilitate dog training sessions. Training treats in particular play an important role in teaching dogs new behaviours, and having a variety helps owners discover their favorites while simultaneously preventing the dog from getting tired of having the same old snacks.

Pick ‘n’ mix pet food was previously trialed at one of Coles’ branches in Melbourne in 2019. Following its success, other pet food dispensers were set up at select venues — with Coles’ Toombul being one of the first in all of Queensland.

For more details on Coles, visit their website. Follow their social media accounts on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates on deals, dates, and other special announcements.