This article has been supplied by Development Victoria.
Development Victoria and Junction Place developer, Central Place, are calling for the people of Wodonga to register their interest to hear more about the refreshed master plan for the site.
Close to 100 people have already registered for the first session, with three dates now confirmed for community sessions, where people can hear about the staging and timing of the development.
The community information and feedback sessions will be held on the following dates as online meetings in line with the current Chief Health Office directions.
Development Victoria and Central Place remain committed to delivering an outstanding development for the community of Wodonga and have confirmed that a cinema remains a key priority for the site.
“This plan reflects what the community has told us overtime is important to them,” Geoff Ward, Group Head, Precincts, Development Victoria said.
“A cinema and entertainment area remains front and centre of the plans for Junction Place and we have adjusted the timing on this to reflect the impact of Covid-19 on the industry.”
Central Place acknowledges there have been challenges facing the cinema and entertainment industry, as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic but remains confident that reassessing the timelines for delivering this stage of Junction Place will ensure its ongoing success.
“We know the community is keen to see the delivery of a cinema and entertainment complex as soon as possible, however, the events of the past 18 months have meant a reassessment of our staging and delivery,” Corrie Warburton, spokesperson for Central Place said.
“We believe this refresh of the Master Plan remains true to the community’s vision developed in 2012, while also responding to the realities of the impact of Covid-19 on the cinema industry, hospitality and retail.”
The developer has been working closely with Wodonga Council and Development Victoria on a refreshed master plan, which will see the cinema and entertainment complex relocated adjacent to Mann Central, the historic Goods Shed and Stations Buildings.
The plan is to operate the cinema and entertainment complex seven days a week to bring life to the central business area of Wodonga and stimulate retail activity in areas such as High Street.
The cinema and entertainment complex stage of the project will be a part of the collection of buildings that includes a 150-room hotel and 1,300 square metre market hall, which can then also be utilised for conferences, lectures, meetings, conventions, exhibitions and other community events.
The change of the staging will see the retail precinct delivered first, which will include an exciting tenancy mix that will attract the community as well as other tenants to be a part of Junction Place.
“Our aim is to deliver a thriving Junction Place, right in the heart of Wodonga with a everything the community needs – shops, commercial spaces, hotel, cinema and entertainment,” Corrie said.
“Leveraging off the successful buildings and open spaces already in Junction Place, will ensure it is active seven days a week and caters to many different people.”
The hotel and retail permit precincts are forecast to provide an additional $50 million GDP to the Wodonga economy annually and create 90 full time equivalent jobs for the community. In addition, they will provide approximately 300 jobs for the local construction industry during the development phase.
Register your interest for the community sessions by emailing: Junction.Place@development.vic.gov.au