Westfield Tuggerah

Westfield Tuggerah is a shopping centre located at Tuggerah on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia approximately 2 km south of the Wyong town centre. The complex was opened in 1995. The centre completed an expansion in 2005 and contains 245 stores and 8 cinemas. It is currently the second largest enclosed shopping centre on the Central Coast after Erina Fair, and is fourth largest shopping area after Gosford, Erina, and The Entrance based on store numbers.[4][5]

Westfield Tuggerah
Location50 Wyong Road, Tuggerah
Opening dateOctober 19, 1995 (1995-10-19)
OwnerScentre Group[1]
No. of stores and services267[2]
No. of anchor tenants7
Total retail floor area82,274 square metres (885,590 sq ft)[3]
No. of floors2
Websitewestfield.com.au/tuggerah

Design and layout

Originally a single storey shopping complex surrounded by car parks, in 2006 a second-storey of shops was opened.

In 2008 approval was given for another extension to create a two-level enclosed shopping centre. The expansion proposed another 40 stores and more car parks.[6] [7]

In September 2009, Myer announced a proposal for a Myer store in the shopping centre to open by the end of 2013. The proposals were for a store of two levels and approximately 12,000 square metres. This was at the time of Myers re-listing on the share market.[8] In September 2015 it was announced that there would be no Myer opening at Tuggerah and any expansion plans would be suspended.

Access

It is approximately 200 metres from Tuggerah station, on the Central Coast & Newcastle Line. The station is serviced by trains which operate between Sydney and Wyong and Newcastle, as well as local trains starting at Gosford.

Westfield Tuggerah is located adjacent to an exit from the M1 Motorway. [9]

Westfield Tuggerah is serviced by bus routes operated by Busways, Red Bus Services & Coastal Liner Coaches.

Being surrounded by car parks the centre is relatively isolated from other businesses and homes, providing limited access for people to access on foot.

History

The land that Westfield Tuggerah occupies is adjacent to the former Tuggerah abattoir. The land is in a slight depression and is somewhat swampy, housing small marsupials and other wetland wildlife associated with the nearby Tuggerah Lake. The centre opened as a single-story complex on 19 October 1995. Following opening there has been a progressive decline in shopping in the nearby towns, with many empty stores and banks in Wyong in particular. The centre opened with few locals businesses and has continued for two decades to have very few independent and locally owned retailers and even less locally designed and produced products (if any). Shortly after opening there was some regret from allowing a relatively unattractive bulky building to be located at the gateway to the shire.[10]

During construction of the 2004 extension, a man was electrocuted and killed. His death prompted the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to highlight work safety laws, stating this was another unneeded death on the worksite.[11][12][13]

Whilst Greg Needham's and McDonald's were the start of modern retail at Tuggerah, Westfield Tuggerah is credited as being the catalyst together with population growth, new roads, and rising income levels for the most recent period of development in the area, including Tuggerah Supa Centre and Tuggerah Business Park.[14]

References
  1. Condon, Turi (20 June 2014). "Westfield restructure a success: Lowy". The Australian Business Review. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
  2. Westfield
  3. Westfield Tuggerah Portfolio
  4. "WestfieldTuggerah is owned by WestfieldTrust". Westfield Group. Retrieved 2006-11-23.
  5. "Construction News - Westfield Tuggerah". Burnett. 2006-06-11. Retrieved 2006-11-23.
  6. "Tuggerah extension gets green light". Australian Financial Review. 2008-02-19.
  7. "Westfield centre plans expansion". Daily Telegraph. 2008-02-12.
  8. Greenblat, Eli (2008-09-28). "Prospectus out: Myer prices shares". Sydney Morning Herald.
  9. UBD Ltd (2006). "Online map". whereis.com. Retrieved 2006-11-23.
  10. "Many changes as Westfield turns 10". Central Coast Express. 2005-10-19.
  11. "Business group attacks safety laws". The Age (Melbourne). 2006-04-28. Retrieved 2006-11-23.
  12. "Construction union volunteers help Portuguese widow". Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union. 2006-06-09. Retrieved 2006-11-23.
  13. "Memorial unveiling for father killed at Westfield Tuggerah". Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union. 2006-10-21. Retrieved 2006-11-23.
  14. "Tuggerah wins as firms move out of city". Sydney Morning Herald. 2002-04-06. Retrieved 2006-11-27.

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