TAKING SHAPE: Countdown on for shopping village opening

FINAL leases for the under-construction Mount Duneed Village are now on offer ahead of the shopping centre’s expected opening late this year.

The $55 million Villawood Properties development is about halfway through construction and due for handover in the last quarter of 2023, according to lease listings.

The Unity Drive site is set to be the main retail precinct for the western side of the Surf Coast Highway to serve the growing Mount Duneed community, which grew by 17 per cent in the past year.

Champions IGA is the anchor tenant of the 2.2-hectare development that will have a combined 6,000sqm of retail and commercial space and 200 car parks.

Learn-to-swim business Saltwater Swim School and childcare operator Amiga Montessori are also on board as pre-committed businesses.

Leasing agents say that just over 20 per cent of the new development is up for grabs, with tenancies starting at 50sqm and available for a range of uses including medical and food/hospitality businesses.

The development also includes medium-density housing and links to other community facilities such as walkways and parks.

Mount Duneed Village is beside the Bunjil’s Nest adventure playground, Club Armstrong, a new community centre and Mirripoa Primary School.

Villawood said the new village would support its 3,000-lot Armstrong Mount Duneed estate, which has won Masterplanned and Community Engagement Awards from the Urban Development Institute of Victoria.

“The long-awaited Mount Duneed Village is taking shape and poised to play a pivotal role in the centre of Villawood Properties’ Armstrong community,” a spokesperson said.

“The $55 million neighbourhood activity centre, under construction by Empire Property Builders at the corner of Sovereign and Unity drives, will further underpin a vibrant and popular hub at the award-winning Armstrong Mount Duneed community.

“Hosting a Champions IGA mart, a dining promenade with chic eateries and cafes, a medical/chemist centre, childcare, swim school and a town square, Mount Duneed Village will also complement the busy precinct with its sleek, green and glass features and fixtures, attractive planters and pergolas.”

The village centre is providing an average of 60 construction jobs and will employ about 80 people once up and running.