Eastland Shopping Centre Construction Tour 

Thirty members from Donvale Hill Probus Club Incorporated, in two groups of 15, attended the Eastland SC Redevelopment Construction site on two different days.  The groups met in the Eastland Project Office, where they met the guide Deanna, who issued all with boots, safety vests and hard hats. 

Deanna gave a brief outline of her background.  She informed all that Eastland is owned by a Queensland Superannuation company, then the group headed onto the site.

The first area was the town square, where the group learnt about the new library, with meeting rooms for hire, and a cafe. The library building is the tallest part on the site.  Also in the town square will be landscape gardens and restaurants with a large variety of foods available. The main entrance to Eastland is through the town square.  Deanna said the site will collect it own water to be stored under the town square, and used for the toilets etc.

A question was asked if there will be a bridge connection Eastland shops to the railway station, the answer was no. It is not planned, as the traders wanted the public on ground level.  Maroondah Highway has been reduced to 4 lanes, 40kmh, and drop off zones will be provided on both sides of the road, and a pedestrian crossing is being installed.

Deanna said the first part of the new centre will be ready by Christmas 2015, and will include David Jones, Target and the mall that runs along the Ringwood Street side of the building.  We were told Target will keep trading in two places at Eastland and also at Target square for 12 months and then they will decide what to do.  The building of the new Target space is completed, and has been handed to Target to do the fit out.  The groups then went into the David Jones area which is over two levels, with a total area of 8000 square meters. It is at the fit out stage and the stores will only have Fashion, Beauty and Home Wares. There will be 4 levels of car parking down the Ringwood Street and Warrandyte road sides, and at present no charge for parking, but that will change as the developing centre opens.

Also Deanna looked at one of the malls, with the floor tiles and glass barriers now in place. All were surprised the first stage will be ready by Christmas 2015 as so much still needs to be done. When completed Eastland will have around 350 shops over 2 or 3 levels. The completion date is mid 2016. 

Roger King