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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 Brings Back the Guilt-Free North Brisbane Vegan Markets!

Did you know that the North Brisbane Vegan Markets, a monthly foodie event that started in late 2021, is back at the Toombul Shopping Centre in Nundah?

If you missed the relaunch in January 2022, you can still mark your calendars for the upcoming North Brisbane Vegan Markets schedules for two Sundays — 20 February and 20 March!

Organised by Brisbane Vegan Markets, this monthly Sunday event will feature some 30 stalls for vegan eats, drinkies, shopping, and charities. Seize the chance to sample a variety of healthy choices, guaranteed without animal products, and score some cruelty-free merchandise as well.

During the relaunch, regular favourites like Vegan Yumm, an all-vegan, dairy-free and egg-free bakehouse based in Everton Park, and Grass Fed Vegan, a vegan burger and ice cream house from South Brisbane welcomed patrons in long lines.

The North Brisbane Vegan Markets opens from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with no entry free. Families may bring their pets as this obviously an animal-friendly event. To spice up the mood, live music will be playing as patrons do their vegan shopping.

Photo Credit: BrisbaneVeganMarkets/Facebook

According to research from Roy Morgan, the number of vegan adults in Australia has increased to almost 11.2 per cent of the general population in 2016. Choices of plant-based food sources and meals have been rising as well as more people adopt a healthier lifestyle.

“The food industry has responded with an increase in the range of products that are available and the labelling of vegan-friendly products as well,” said Queensland Public Health Nutritionist Mathew Dick.

New Adults-Only Circus Launches at Archie Brothers in Toombul

Did you know that there’s a new adults-only circus event at the Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq in Toombul? The exciting attraction to titillate north Brisbane’s crowd will run after 8:00 p.m., exclusive only to fun-loving guests above 18 years old.

Launched on 9 May 2021, the spectacular adults-only circus, aptly called Showtime, will take place every second Saturday of the month until November 2021. Transforming the arcade are heaps of jugglers, showgirls, magicians, stilt walkers, unicyclists and other performers who will mystify guests with their street performances.

Entry to Showtime will cover three hours of all-inclusive games and choices of quirky food and drinks, including cocktails or milkshakes — depending on the guests’ preferences.

The move to deliver a limited adults-only circus night was driven by the pandemic lockdown. Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq‘s venue manager Dan Carey said that the Toombul leisure-tainment site was hit extremely hard by the COVID-19 economic fallout and this new attraction should help the venue recover.

It comes as Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq’s parent company, Funlab, was absorbed by a new owner, TPG Capital, in March 2021 for $250 million. The company also invested in the launch of the new circus event with a big party attended by Queensland’s A-listers.

Meanwhile, bookings for the adults-only circus are encouraged online. Showtime will run on the following dates:

12 June 2021	11 September 2021
10 July 2021	9 October 2021
14 August 2021	13 November 2021

For updates about the circus, check Archie Brothers’ Facebook and Instagram.

It’s a Slimey Fun Day for Kids at Toombul Shopping Centre in Nundah

Photo Credit: Emma Craig/Flickr

The school holidays are in full swing in Nundah! If you’ve got bored little kids at home, why not swing by the Toombul Shopping Centre on Sandgate Road?

From the 11th to the 12th of April, Toombul’s Sweet as Sprinkles Kids Activity Zone, located outside Witchery, will hold a slime creative workshop for children between two years old to six years old. Staff members from Glitter and Goop will teach the kids how to make their own colourful slime to play countless hours with.

*Photo Credit:* *Glitter and Goop/Facebook*

Sessions for the Slime Time are at 40 minutes per group but the activity zone will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Booking and payment of $5 per person is required as there are limited slots for the event.

Slime might be gooey, sticky and squishy but kids love to enjoy the sensory experience they draw from it. For smaller children, making slime can also help improve fine motor skills.

Meanwhile, parents dropping by with their kids at Toombul are encouraged to be present at the activity centre to assist and supervise their children when it’s their turn to create their very own slime.