KMART will be one of the big drawcards of Westfield North Lakes’ newest extension — the mallway linking to Ikea — but the store will be joined by a number of other “mini majors”.
The North Lakes Times took an exclusive tour through the construction site last week, which is only months away from opening to eager shoppers, and can reveal Rebel Sport, Cotton On Mega and JB Hi-Fi will join Kmart as the anchor tenants along with more than 60 specialty shops.
Sean Nash, project manager for Scentre Group, the owner of Westfield, said 350 construction workers were on site and that figure would increase closer to the opening.
He said the project was “on track” to open at the same time as Ikea.
“Before Christmas” is the official line but all parties have hinted at a late November or early December open date.
“Painters will move in at the end of (this) week,” Mr Nash said.
“Kmart has already been handed over, so they are up to their fitout.
“In early October the walls and ceiling will be fully sheeted (with plasterboard) and (by) the end of October we will be turning on the airconditioning, sprinklers and the lights.”
Once completed, the extension will have a tropical-garden feel with hanging plants and palm trees.
A Westfield North Lakes spokeswoman said the new five-level carpark would also open at the same time.
“We currently have about 2500 car parking spaces. When the multistorey carpark opens there will more than 5000,” she said.
For a centre that has been plagued by parking issues, this was welcome news.
In comparison, one of Westfield’s biggest shopping centres, at Parramatta in Sydney, has 4500 spaces.
There was still no word on whether paid parking would be introduced, although most shoppers told the Times they would not mind a similar system to Westfield Chermside where the first three hours were free.
Take a tour through the construction of the mallway that links Westfield North Lakes to the new Ikea store:
Inside the mallway, looking towards the multistorey carpark.New entrance into carpark, coming off the Bruce Hwy and Anzac Ave.Top level of mallway extension. Rebel Sport is on this level. From this level, hanging plants will be installed to create a tropical feel at the shopping centre.An artist impression of Westfield North Lakes’ mallway. Palm trees and hanging plants will be a feature.Westfield North Lakes’ new extension will feature natural light, timber work and tropical inspired plants.The top level of Westfield North Lakes’ mallway.
Original article published at www.theurbandeveloper.com by Jamie-Leigh Mason 15/9/16