Eastland Shopping Centre - Stage 5 Redevelopment

Stage 5 Redevelopment

QIC plans to further expand Eastland. They are said to be investing between $350-500 million in a stage 5 expansion, that would see the centre almost double in size, making it one of the largest shopping centres in Australia.

The expansion will have a focus (after customer feedback on the existing mix) on creating more dining and entertainment options for the people of Ringwood, as well as introducing more high-end fashion options into the centre.

Early plans included a large 3-level expansion, connecting the Hoyts end with Maroondah Highway, providing a new entrance to the 3rd level of Myer, and culminating in an outdoor alfresco dining and nightlife area, similar to Knox Ozone. Also included in the plans are an open town centre area and a new public library (to be built on the corner of land currently occupied by Harris Scarfe) and office and hotel towers.

This development was due to get underway in late 2009, but stalled, likely due to the Global Financial Crisis. The Maroondah Leader stated that QIC was under contractual obligation with the Maroondah City Council to start the development by 2011 at the latest. It was disclosed in July 2011 that the Maroondah Council had let QIC out of this contract, on QIC's word that works will definitely get underway in 2012. QIC has not yet publicly announced detailed plans for the redevelopment, though it is likely that demolition of the existing buildings and parking structures between Eastland's current entrance and Maroondah Highway, will begin sometime in 2012.

The Maroondah Council has announced that enabling works will be carried out in early 2012, allowing for changes to be made to the Eastern Multilevel carpark; the entry ramp to the 3rd level of the carpark is being moved, and Kmart Tyre and Auto will be relocated to the North-Western carpark off Ringwood Street. This work must be carried out before the Stage 5 redevelopment can commence.

Though QIC also owns the adjacent Ringwood Market site - which was demolished at the end of 2009 to make way for a new retail/commercial development - there are currently no plans for Eastland to expand westward onto this vacant land. Past plans were for 3 separate 5 storey buildings, including office space, underground parking, and boutique shops/dining along with the space for a 12,000 square metre retail store (Costco, Ikea and Masters Home Improvement were all rumoured to be vying for the space), that would only be linked to Eastland via pedestrian access. Costco Australia managing director Patrick Noone has all but confirmed that their second Melbourne warehouse will be built there. On 18 July 2012 it was confirmed that Costco's second Melbourne store will be opening there, on the corner of Bond and Market Streets, in July-August 2013, with construction to start in August 2012. The store will be larger than the Docklands store, at 14,500sqm QIC is yet to detail the rest of the development, which will have frontage along Ringwood Street.