Kingston Village works to begin this year

OCEAN Grove locals have welcomed news the construction of Kingston Village will begin this year, with the state-of-the-art shopping centre expected to open in November 2019.

Lascorp Development Group (Aust) Pty Ltd made the long-awaited announcement about the new $60 million centre last week after many years in the making.

Located on Grubb Road in Ocean Grove, major tenants include Woolworths, Aldi, Dan Murphy’s, Jetts 24hr fitness, Direct Chemist Outlet, a medical centre, McDonalds and Caltex Fuel, along with 25 specialty stores and office spaces, and more than 550 car parking spaces.

Families will also benefit from a new childcare centre with more than 120 places, opening on the
corner of Cheviot Terrace and Coastal Boulevard.

Development manager Rob Harris from Lascorp Development Group said he was pleased that they had nearly reached construction stage.

Mr Harris said preliminary construction works were expected to start in October and that they had been advised by Kingston Ocean Grove that all roads and infrastructure would be completed by February 2019, to permit the development to proceed.

He also said the development had been designed with families in mind.

“Our plan to include a large outdoor plaza, with family entertainment, outdoor seating and a large screen is something very unique for a neighbourhood shopping centre,” Mr Harris said.

The $60 million development will provide work for more than 150 people during construction and once complete there will be about 400 full-time positions available.

“It has been a pleasure collaborating on this project with the Corless Family of Kingston Ocean Grove for the second time, the first being the hugely successful Ocean Grove Market Place development,” Mr Harris said.

“We believe this will now be the finest retail centre in the Geelong area.”

City of Greater Geelong’s Director of Planning and Development Joanne Van Slageren said the planning application for the first stage of the Kingston Shopping Centre was submitted in March
2016 and subsequently a permit was granted in May 2017.

The approved development allows for approximately 12,500 square metres of retail floor space.