Store construction to start in May

Supermarket giant Woolworths is set to create more than 150 Busselton jobs by Easter next year with construction poised to start on its Duchess Street shopping centre.

Woolworths spokesperson Simon Berger said construction on the $30 million shopping centre, which would include a supermarket and eight to 10 specialty stores, was expected to start in May.

The store will be Woolworths’ second in Busselton, in addition to the company’s existing supermarket on Duchess Street.

Mr Berger said Woolworths had a long-term lease on the existing supermarket and it would continue operating for the “foreseeable future”.

He said the company also believed there was a need for a second Busselton store.

“It will be bigger than the existing store. The demand is there,” Mr Berger said.

He said the development would benefit the Busselton economy with the creation of new jobs on its completion.

“We’re hoping to be open by around Easter 2012 … with more than 150 new jobs in retail, along with flow-on benefits to the local economy,” he said.

Busselton Shire Council has granted planning permission for the development.

Planning and development services director Nigel Bancroft said a building application was expected to be lodged soon, with construction to start “imminently”.

Tenants to operate stores in the ew centre are being reviewed.

Meanwhile construction on the West Street Power Centre, which received council approval two years ago, is still on hold.

Developer Erceg Management was unavailable for comment this week but Mr Bancroft said there had been no development on the site since approval was given.

“I think particularly the Power Centre site was affected as the global financial crisis hit,” he said.

Representatives for the company indicated they would appeal through the State Administrative Tribunal after they objected to council conditions, including a bond for the site.