Mount Gambier | Developments & News

[Will]

From the Border Watch:

University expansion push progresses

08 Mar, 2012 12:30 AM


A MULTI-MILLION dollar bid for an expanded university campus in Mount Gambier has passed a critical hurdle this week after the Federal Government allowed UniSA to proceed to the next stage of a funding application.

UniSA is in the process of applying for a $22m grant to build a "state-of-the-art" learning centre at its present site on Wireless Road West that could be used for a broad range of degrees and other courses in future, including teaching and engineering studies.

Director of the centre for regional engagement Professor Guy Robinson welcomed the "exciting" development and said plans were under way for the university's final submission to the government later this month.

If successful, construction work on a whole suite of new lecture theatres, tutorial rooms and laboratories could begin as early as the end of the year.

"It's an exciting prospect - once it's given the go ahead there should be nothing stopping it," Prof Robinson told The Border Watch.

The university is expected to be notified of the final outcome from the government within three months, with both Mount Gambier City Council and the university expected to commit funds to the project.

Under the terms of the Federal Government's Higher Education Investment Fund, construction of new buildings would need to completed by 2015.

"Construction would have to start next year or as early as the end of this year," Prof Robinson said.

He explained the initial application to the government had been well received, but added there was "no guarantee" it would ultimately succeed.

"We're pleased to have passed the first hurdle," he said.

Once built, the campus would be able to accommodate new courses, including health sciences, midwifery and physiotherapy.

Prof Robinson said the university would also search for industry partners to launch an engineering course potentially tailored to the district.

"We would also hope to do more specialist business courses suited to the region and local industry," said Prof Robinson, who added that Mount Gambier's diverse industries would help launch the degree.

"It will be a new building with state-of-the-art facilities for staff and students and we'd be looking to add new courses and programs."

The tertiary body will potentially turn to the State Government and other parties to push the expansion if it fails to attract the funds.

Tutorial and lecture rooms at the campus were stretched to the limit last year following enrolments.

Prof Robinson said the campus had "run out of space".

"When it was first opened in 2006, they weren't quite sure how many students would be coming in through the doors," he said.

Federal Member for Barker Patrick Secker said he was "proud" after lobbying the government to open the campus during 2005.

"People said it wouldn't be possible," Mr Secker told the Border Watch.

"I'm pretty proud of that."

The federal member said he had included his own letter of support in last year's submission for the project.

"Any expansion is only going to help the people of the South East and I'm absolutely 100pc supportive of this," he said.

"It's essential for students in Mount Gambier to be able to attend university in their own town."

Mr Secker said he still held a vision that the campus could one day be used by international students and for the city to become a "uni town".

"I've always thought there was potential for that and I hope that Mount Gambier ends up having that," he said

[skyliner]

Great vision - good place for it - great news for MG - esp after the forests debacle.This taps all SW Vic and SE SA. Good sized support town (25000 pop) and relatively diverse occupational base. Hope it does grow to the level of receiving international students.

SA - GREAT STATE MATE!!!

[wilkiebarkid]

Marketplace Mt Gambier is due to open August/September this year. Includes Woolworths, Big W and Masters Home Improvement (1st in SA).

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Quite a boost for the City.

[Ben]

Monopoly much..

[AtD]

"Marketplace" itself is owned by Woolies.

[crawf]

Woolworths.... taking over the world

[[Shuz]]

Little boxes made of ticky tacky, to put together a big box all the same.

[fabricator]

Not bad, shame about the monopoly and ugly carpark.

[Will]

2 articles from 'The Border Watch':

Mount Gambier Marketplace launch weeks away

13 Jun, 2012 11:30 PM


THE $80m Mount Gambier Marketplace on the city's northern gateway has announced it will officially open its doors in early August.
With 75pc of the sprawling centre leased and recruitment well underway, the shopping centre is just weeks away from its grand opening date of Thursday, August 9.

In a statement released by Woolworths yesterday, the centre will house a number of national specialty retailers, including Michael Hill Jeweller, Muffin Break, Crossroads, Payless Shoes, Angus & Coote and Priceline Pharmacy.

The 26,500 square metre centre will also boast the only Big W store within a 300km radius, a Woolworths Supermarket and two mini majors.

New hardware giant Masters Home Improvement will also open on the same day and will offer more than 35,000 products.

The centre is expected to create around 600 jobs spread across the Woolworths-owned stores and the speciality shops.

The specialty shops are expected to generate around 200 jobs, with Big W alone creating 160 new employment opportunities.

Woolworths Limited marketplaces and Big W senior development manager Nigel Smith said the company would hand over the site to the specialty store operators on June 28 for the fit-out process.

"This will then be six weeks until the opening," Mr Smith said.

He said Woolworths management was also pleased with the leasing of the shopping centre.

"About 75pc of the space is leased, which is really good in this very difficult environment. We are really comfortable with that - it is where we would like it to be," Mr Smith said.

He said the process for the recruitment for the Big W and Woolworths stores was also underway.

"We are very excited about the opening. Everything is going very well," Mr Smith said.

Meanwhile, the Woolworths executive said the South Australian Development Commission had rubber-stamped Mount Gambier City Council's planning decision to allow a bulky goods retail showroom to be carved up into smaller retail speciality stores.

While explaining the commission had upheld council's decision, he said Woolworths had yet to be formally notified because of a waiting time period.

Mount Gambier Marketplace centre manager Simon DeBarro yesterday announced the grand opening date.

"We are excited to officially open the Mount Gambier Marketplace," Mr DeBarro said.

"The centre will provide a greater variety as an easy, convenient shopping destination for the people of the Mount Gambier and South East region.

"The new Mount Gambier Marketplace will meet community expectations by providing a greater range of stores and improved retail amenities, whilst maintaining a design that complements the regional location."

Grand opening celebrations will run from Thursday, August 9 to Saturday, August 11, and will include appearances by children's characters, entertainment, giveaways and the chance for shoppers to win WISH gift cards.

The marketplace will have parking for more than 1100 cars, with shade protection to more 200 spaces as well as disabled parking and parents with prams parks.

The site will also house a Woolworths petrol station

Meanwhile the Mt. Gambier City Council in an attempt to compete with the new shopping centre:

Mount Gambier City Council to refurbish inner city

12 Jun, 2012 11:30 PM



A NEW VISION: The proposed new walkway that will provide a pedestrian thoroughfare between Percy Street and Commercial Street East.


MOUNT Gambier City Council will seek to brand the inner city retail precinct as it ramps up its $5m renewal project that aims to get people out of cars and strolling the pavement.
The inner city refurbishment will also include the looming demolition of the vacant former Mutual Community building, extensive new pavement works, a network of destination signage and the evolution of parklets.

The new concept to brand the inner city has been embraced by Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce, which is expected to play a key role in developing catchy new branding.

With the $80m new Mount Gambier Marketplace just months away from opening, the unprecedented make-over is considered critical in cementing the inner city as the premier boutique shopping precinct.

While the demolition of the former Mutual Community building has been in the pipeline for some years, council is set to move forward with the $250,000 project after foreshadowing yesterday it would support a tender for the demolition of the building that abuts the historic Jens Annexe.

Council yesterday unveiled a redevelopment blueprint of the walkway, which is expected to provide key links from Percy Street to the main shopping strip and provide a modern landscape.

Chamber president Lynette Martin yesterday welcomed news of the potential to brand the centre business district and council stepping up its multi-million-dollar inner city facelift.

"It is an excellent idea if it gets people walking more - the chamber has been promoting and championing this for some time," Ms Martin said.

"We want to pedestrianise the main central business district."

Ms Martin also welcomed news the demolition of the former Mutual Community building was imminent, given it would encourage people to walk around the retail precinct.

'It will certainly add vibrancy," she explained.

With the looming opening of the shopping centre on the northern gateway, Ms Martin said the inner city refurbishment was crucial to ensuring the main street had "point of difference".

Meanwhile, council operational services director Daryl Sexton said while some of the $5m plan had been completed such as Coles carpark and Engelbrecht Lane link, he said the massive project had yet to get fully underway.

"We have got some results on the board, but there is still a fair way to go," Mr Sexton said.

"The project is significant in terms of the budget and the outcome."

He said streetscaping was about to get underway with new "way-finding" signage and paving.

The first of the paving is earmarked for Commercial Street West, between Wehl Street and Elizabeth Street.

He said the initiative to brand the city centre would be in partnership with the state's transport department that had funding for such initiatives and the local chamber of commerce.

Although suggesting that the brand could be "park and stride", he said the catchy phase would need detailed discussion.

Meantime, Mr Sexton said council planned to start the demolition of the former Mutual Community building.

He said council currently leased the other walkway just a number of doors up from the site.

Mr Sexton said the $250,000 project would provide a "very attractive walkway".

BarryMac Electrical co-proprietor Bill Jacob welcomed news the building next door to his shop was likely to be demolished shortly.

"It will really open up the street - it will be terrific," Mr Jacob said.

While the plan had been mooted for some time, he said he was pleased it was now coming to fruition.

Meantime, Hidden Secrets manager Jaymie Brown also welcomed the news of the looming demolition given the store was adjacent the proposed walkway.

"It should make it easier to park around the back and walk through to Commercial Street," Ms Brown said.

The issue will tabled for discussion at council's full meeting on Tuesday.

[crawf]

Good to see Mt Gambier acting like the second largest city in South Australia. Lots of potential there

[skyliner]

It would be a real disaster if the CBD fell apart due to this - have seen too many country CBD's destroyed by developments such as Marketplace. MG CBD was 1 KM long solid of shops etc and extremely active - getting a slum/run down place turns people off - what do you do with it? Glad to see Council acting about this - alternative uses the way to go - coupled with apartments that link in.

I really feel for the businesses left in the CBD. We are going through this very issue now where I live - very intense level of feelings here. I hear it all from the threatened business owners.

MG - great place.

[eKwatee]

Old hospital to be demolished

The Border Watch
SANDRA MORELLO
19 Jul, 2012 04:00 AM
IT is now official - the dilapidated old six-storey hospital building in Mount Gambier will be demolished and no housing subdivision will be allowed on the picturesque landscape.
At City Council's full meeting on Tuesday night, the saga surrounding the 40-year-old eyesore has finally come to a conclusion after more than 13 years of failed bids to redevelop the prominent site.
Under council's plan, the site - on the edge of the volcanic Valley Lake rim - will become botanical gardens and attempts will be made to restore the original contour of the site with crushed limestone rubble.
Council will seek to explore whether crushed limestone rubble from the $2.5m demolition works can be used to backfill the hill.
Despite a report indicating council could reap $1m from nine potential housing allotments, elected members voted against the move.
Council will now develop a concept plan within four months before it is released for public consultation.
Chief executive officer Mark McShane said yesterday while concept plans still had to be developed, ideas mooted included recreating the original slope of the land.
Explaining the concept plans were three to four months away from completion, he said a whole range of "checks" were needed for the plan.
He said the blueprint would include landscaping, new linkages to the Valley Lake and details on how the area would blend with the residential apartment complex next to the site.
Mr McShane said a timeframe for the demolition works was yet to be decided.
"There is no set timeframe," he said.
Asked how council would fund the works, Mr McShane said it would be delivered through council's capital works borrowing program.
"Major projects have been factored into our long-term financial plan," he said.
Explaining council had acted swiftly since purchasing the building nine months ago, he said the Local Government body had achieved more in that timeframe than 12 years when it the complex was under private ownership.
At this week's meeting, Cr Des Mutton supported the demolition of all the buildings and warned a $40m refurbishment of the site would be a "noose around council's neck".

[fabricator]

Old hospital to be demolished

The Border Watch
19 Jul, 2012 04:00 AM

Council will seek to explore whether crushed limestone rubble from the $2.5m demolition works can be used to backfill the hill.
Despite a report indicating council could reap $1m from nine potential housing allotments, elected members voted against the move.

Fail, $2.5M to demolish, plus whatever it cost to buy the land, and they pass up the chance to sell the land for $1m. Poor ratepayers are really getting screwed, this is going to be on expensive park.

[skyliner]

Between this failed project, the loss of the pulp mill, no SE railway system, the collapse of the blue gum industry and the state pine forest debacle, our second biggest city, MG, is going to face some hard times. A real disappointment all up for such a promising future.

SA - GREAT STATE

[AG]

This shopping centre has now officially opened as of today.