Arcade proposal for Thirroul
February 02, 2006
Section: News
A NEW $4 million shopping arcade is planned for Thirroul pending Wollongong City Council's decision on a controversial town square proposal.
The arcade would feature five shops and would link Lawrence Hargrave Drive to the car park in McCauley Street.
The retail premises would replace the present Smith's Soul Pattinson Chemist, who is considering relocating into the Anita's Theatre complex opposite.
Chemist owner Doug Smith said the proposal hinged on council's plan to resume his property and other shops on the corner of McCauley Street and Lawrence Hargrave Drive for a town square.
Submissions on council's development control plan for the Thirroul shopping centre, which included the controversial town square proposal, closed on Tuesday.
Mr Smith said he would await council's decision on the town square before making a decision on the arcade, but said the new retail development was a possibility.
Mr Smith is critical of the town square and, along with other Thirroul traders, placed full page advertisements in the Northern Leader urging residents to object to the proposal late last year.
Developer, John Comelli said the new arcade would feature a mezzanine level and would be an attractive addition to the architecture of Thirroul.
"The design will be quite spectacular and not before seen outside Sydney," Mr Comelli said.