Contract for building Joondalup shopping centre

20/4/93

Western Australian-owned Consolidated Constructions has been awarded a $44 million contract to build stage one of the Joondalup regional shopping centre project.

Lands Minister George Cash said today the joint venture owners of the shopping centre project, LandCorp and Armstrong Jones Property Income Fund, made the appointment after calling for tenders last month.  Consolidated Constructions submitted the lowest tender.

Mr Cash said Consolidated Constructions had been instructed to begin construction immediately with a view to having the shopping centre fully operational by late 1994.

He said construction would provide an important boost to employment in the metropolitan area.

"Consolidated Constructions is currently finalising construction of the new Department of Land Administration (DOLA) building in Midland.  This project has provided hundreds of jobs and significantly boosted local business in the region, which is now set to capitalise on the relocation of an 850-strong workforce," Mr Cash said.

"Similarly, the Joondalup regional shopping centre project will employ about 250 people directly during the construction phase and hundreds more people will be employed indirectly, supplying products and services to the project.

"Moreover, when the shopping centre opens, it is likely that the retailers in the centre will employ an additional 900 people on a permanent full-time and part-time basis."

Mr Cash said the project had proved to be a good investment for the State Government.

The Government had been approached by a number of investors interested in purchasing LandCorp's half-share of the project.

"A decision on whether or not to sell the Government's half-share in the shopping centre project will be made in due course," he said.

A spokesman for the joint venture, Mr Barry Stockton, said stage one of the shopping centre would comprise 26,500 square metres of retail space and feature Coles and Advantage supermarkets, a K-Mart discount department store and about 100 specialty shops.

Mr Cash said the centre could ultimately be one of the largest in the State.

"The Joondalup regional shopping centre is located in one of Australia's fastest growing regional corridors with the current population of about 190,000 set to increase to 300,000 by early next century," he said.

"The rapid growth of the Joondalup region will be the catalyst for the commencement of further stages of the shopping centre which could nearly triple its size, making it one of the biggest in Western Australia."

Media contact: Narelle Cant 222 9216