EXCLUSIVE: Large grocery chains Woolworths and Aldi have both expressed interest in developing supermarkets in Springwood, according to Gazette inquiries.
Blue Mountains City Council has advised the supermarkets to "direct their proposals into the Springwood town centre master planning process" which will start soon, said Springwood-based councillor Brendan Luchetti.
Clr Luchetti said talk of new grocery chains coming to Springwood was "quite the talk of the town, and these rumours have been circulating for some time".
Clr Luchetti was elected two terms ago on the back of fears that a major supermarket would partner with the civic centre rebuild.
Both Woolworths and Aldi approached council last year with proposals for supermarkets in Springwood, sources say.
Approaches were made to the council "in late 2014 expressing interest in development sites for supermarkets in the Springwood town centre precinct," a council spokeswoman verified to the Gazette.
"At that time, the council advised the interested parties to participate in a wider master planning process for the Springwood town centre," she said.
The Gazette understands the focus has sharpened on the southern IGA supermarket [Supa IGA].
The Gazette has obtained documents which show there has been a change of ownership near the southern supermarket block. The owners of 8-12 Raymond Road [which includes the IGA and smaller shops along Springwood Avenue, which are steadily becoming vacant] are Andre and Diana Wayne and that ownership has remained for some decades.
But the ownership of the heritage-listed Oriental Hotel at 112 Macquarie Road changed hands on June 26 [settling on August 12] last year for $2.95 million to J P Benson Pty Ltd.
Documents show the company that owns the IGA has the same address as the company that bought the Oriental Hotel. A web search has Andre Wayne as the director of J P Benson which owns more than 40 properties in NSW, worth more than $10 million.
Clr Luchetti said the master planning process would "enable the public to view and comment on these proposals and inform councillors of their views prior to us making any decisions. It should be noted that the [supermarkets] proposals would require some council land, hence the referral into the town planning process and public input."
The Gazette has confirmed a group of about 30 people from Woolworths had a breakfast meeting at the Springwood Sports Club on Thursday August 7.
In response to Gazette queries, a spokeswoman for Woolworths said: "While we are always looking for future opportunities at this stage we have no confirmed plans to bring a store to Springwood."
But an Aldi Australia spokesperson issued a statement on Monday saying: "Aldi Australia is interested in bringing the Aldi difference to more residents of the Blue Mountains. We are considering opportunities within the Lower Blue Mountains and will be in a better position to comment on a potential location once plans have progressed."
"When establishing a new store, Aldi considers the long-term potential of the area and population numbers. We work closely with the local council and other stakeholders to ensure Aldi will positively impact the community."
Council voted at its February 24 meeting to appoint a specialist consultancy service, McGregor Coxall, to review the Springwood master plan. Council closed the meeting to the public to discuss the matter.
The master plan was originally adopted in 1995. The aim of the plan is to guide the future development of Springwood, manage council assets and facilities in the public domain, and inform major projects and initiatives, the council spokeswoman said.
Clr Luchetti said "if they [the supermarkets] were to develop a proposal that did not require any council land, they could proceed with this through the normal channels, which would mean the DA [development application] would go to a Joint Regional Planning Panel for assessment, not council, due to the value of the development."
The Gazette left messages for Mr Wayne.
- Do you know more? Email bclewis@fairfaxmedia.com.au.
