A new look into the state of development in the Officer town centre has revealed little movement in the many empty paddocks, but there are still promising signs that major players are still committed to calling the growing suburb home.
At the latest meeting of Cardinia Shire Council on Monday, a report was published detailing the current state of permits across the Officer town centre, in response to a motion by Cr Potter.
A similar report was made last year in response to then Cr Radford, listing the precise permits issued and applications lodged within the area.
The report reiterates that the council continues to assess applications and assist private landowners, but as the council, it still has no power to make private development begin.
“It isn’t a matter of if Officer town centre will get developed, it is just a matter of when,” Cr Potter said.
Though there is no new certainty of when these developments may start in the new report, it provides some updates to existing plans, such as the hopeful development of a Coles supermarket.
Located at 458 Princes Highway, the Coles-owned site has more frontage on Siding Avenue just north of the council offices.
The report says Coles are drawing up new designs for the supermarket in the ongoing assessment of the application.
This is an update from last time, when the matter was reviewing a Cultural Heritage Management Plan, which was confirmed to have been approved earlier this year.
Coles confirmed that they are still committed to a supermarket in Officer and continue to meet with the council regularly on the application.
This report shows that a permit has been issued for 465 Princes Highway, which mostly covers the empty lot on the corner with Starling Road.
Yet, this new report updates the permit description from a “mixed-use” development to works for a “supermarket, offices, restricted retail premises, food and drink premises.”
While Coles has their site and Woolworths have confirmed they are planning a supermarket on the corner of the highway and Whiteside Road, it’s unknown if there is already another supermarket chain with interest in this site and who they might be.
The report also showed that the largest chunk of the town centre is owned by the state government, mostly for the future development of green space and reserves.
