On Tuesday, Woolworths unveiled construction progress at its newest shopping centre development at Gordonvale in Far North Queensland.
Indigenous artwork adorning a large wall facing the Bruce highway will be one of the highlights of the new $20 million development.
Woolworths has commissioned local Indigenous artist Michael Boiyool Anning from the Dulgu-Barra clan, known for reviving the tradition of making artefacts such as Yalma (cross boomerangs) and Big-uun (shields).
A combination of these designs will be reproduced and installed on a facade facing the highway and visible to both customers entering the new centre and traffic passing through Gordonvale.
The new shopping centre development will bring 80 jobs during construction and approximately 120 ongoing jobs when the centre opens later this year. Woolworths State Development Manager Chris Sheehan, joined by State Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt, Cairns Mayor Bob Manning and Councillor Brett Moller, inspected the project’s progress on Tuesday, March 8. Elders from the Dulabed & Malanbarra Yidinji Aboriginal Corporation were also in attendance.
Woolworths State Development Manager Chris Sheehan said it was exciting to see the Gordonvale Shopping Centre development progress.
“We’re delighted that Mr Boiyool Anning has been commissioned for this project which will allow his designs to be viewed by people in 20,000 vehicles a day, Mr Sheehan said.
“We’re confident we can deliver a high quality and convenient shopping destination that will meet the needs of the growing and evolving Gordonvale community and support new small and medium-sized businesses.”
State Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt MP has been an avid supporter of the project since Woolworths first sought Council approval more than ten years ago.
“I’ve long supported a Woolworths development in the growing southern corridor of Cairns, and this location will draw shoppers from as far south as Babinda and provide options for a trolley shop closer to home for residents of Goldsborough and Mount Peter,” Mr Pitt said.
“Seeing the progress of the development presents an exciting opportunity for families with teenage children looking to secure their first job.
“With stage two of Cutters Rise residential development about to be released, I have no doubt that the new Woolworths development is a major selling point for new homebuyers, who will benefit from both shopping and employment opportunities.”
To improve traffic flow and access to the centre, the construction of Fisher Road, delivered on behalf of Cairns Regional Council, is now complete and open to the public.
Cairns Mayor Cr Bob Manning recognised the significance of the development for the city’s southern corridor and said it was another demonstration of the confidence business and industry has in the region.
“During a particularly difficult time for our region, Gordonvale and even further south to Babinda, have been doing well and demonstrated their resilience,” he said.
“We know that future population growth of Cairns will be very much to the south of the city, and this new development will play an essential role in servicing the area.
“Council understands the importance of delivering core infrastructure in supporting new developments like this and has invested $6.25 million in critical works associated with the new Woolworths shopping centre, principally for the extension of Fisher Rd and the Draper Rd roundabout.”
Mr Sheehan said it was exciting to be so close to finalising the project.
“This project has been many years in the making, and we can’t wait to welcome the Gordonvale community into our state-of-the-art shopping centre in July 2022,” he said.
