By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
LARA and Geelong’s northern suburbs are in for a massive retail boost with the approval this week of a new Woolworths supermarket and a Masters homewares store.
The supermarket development is part of a $70 million Lara town centre expansion project, including a new $3 million bowling club and greens.
Ward councillor Tony Ansett expects the two latest retail developments to generate 450 jobs.
The Woolworths supermarket, set to begin construction in February, will replace a small Safeway store. The full-range supermarket will include a large market-style fresh produce area, a wider variety of grocery products and an updated car park.
A Woolworths spokesperson said the new store would create around 120 construction roles and a further 60 jobs once the store was complete.
Site works have already begun on a Lara Coles supermarket and associated speciality shops, a chain store, two cafes and a McDonald’s restaurant.
The Lara Town Centre expansion also includes a skate park and parkland, with a realignment of Station Lake Rd.
Cr Ansett said the green light for the developments was a huge boost for Lara.
“This will create 200 jobs in Lara alone, with about 450 all up if you include the Masters store.
“This is well and truly needed in the north. This makes a huge difference to jobs and creates more competition in the town,” he said.
“We’ve gone from years of frustration trying to get it going to it all happening with a rush now.”
Lara Chamber of Commerce president Lorel Robinson said the developments would help the town shed its “sleepy hollow” tag.
“This will put us on the map,” she declared.
“This will be so fantastic for the community, its going to be amazing. It will generate a lot of jobs, a lot of money in the community.
“There will be opportunities for community support through sponsorships for schools and sporting groups.
“It’s been a long drawn out saga but it marks the start of the growth of Lara.
“It means millions of dollars coming into area through the housing developments, the expansion of Avalon and it will stop some leakage of retail spending from the town.”
