An Aldi supermarket is set to become part of the Main Street, Merimbula streetscape Bega Valley Shire general manager Leanne Barnes has confirmed.
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“They have exercised their option and we are going through the exchange of contracts; they have taken up the option as of January 31,” Ms Barnes said.
A deposit has been paid with completion of the contract for sale conditional upon the purchaser obtaining consent to its development application (DA) by the Southern Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP).
There is believed to be considerable relief that the deal for the two lots, 103 and 105-107 Main St, Merimbula is going ahead.
It has not been without hitches though. The original DA envisaged the use of an easement on adjacent land to the east, to bring traffic to Aldi’s underground parking area.
Fairfax Media understands the Aldi DA needed a sign-off from the property owner on the eastern side which was not forthcoming.
As a consequence Aldi decided to remove the easement issue from its development and revised its DA to place a driveway into the underground parking on what will be its own land. The site will also be able to be accessed via the rear service road which will be extended to accommodate Aldi as well as Woolworths traffic.
“This is fabulous news for the town. We have two major construction areas going on at once. There will be some short-term pain but there will be long-term gain with some good outcomes for Merimbula,” Ms Barnes said.
The Aldi DA has to go before the JRPP because of the value of the construction. In its DA paperwork Aldi puts the cost of the construction at $6.9 million without the value of the land.
Any development over $5 million has to be referred to the JRPP and the Aldi DA was expected to be before the panel on Tuesday, February 6, who met at the Bega Valley Regional Learning Centre to also consider a request for an amendment to the Cattle Bay Marina, Eden DA.
However the easement issue and subsequent revision to the DA delayed matters and the JRPP is expected to consider the Aldi DA in the next couple of months. Panel members were due to visit the Aldi site while in Merimbula.
No decision was made regarding proposed headworks charges by council for Cattle Bay Marina, at Tuesday’s JRPP meeting.
