Court fight puts Target on hold

Jessica Benton
A Victorian Supreme Court battle is holding up plans to build a Target store at Ocean Grove.
Target Australia and Dzine Construction Group are fighting Ocean Grove Enterprises over the retail development proposed for the corner of The Parade and Presidents Avenue.
Work has stopped on the project while the companies slug it out in court.
A Dzine spokesperson said the company hoped to take ownership of the multi million-dollar project at the end of the civil court hearing.
The construction company planned to take over management of the site after the developer went into voluntary liquidation in June, the spokesperson said.
Dzine’s website said the project was due for completion last October.
The Ocean Plaza retail development has been under a cloud since construction work ceased around the middle of last year.
The plaza was initially scheduled to open before the peak Christmas period but works stopped amid problems with powerlines and management wrangles.
The proposed retail development includes 10 shops with a Target Country store as a key tenant. A kiosk and underground parking are also included.
Discount supermarket chain Aldi has said it would be interested in the site if the Target plan failed.
Target Australia corporate affairs advisor Lauren Andrews said the company was still “very interested” in establishing the store.
“We’re in discussions with the developer and builder to determine how we can proceed with our plans to deliver a new Target Country store for Ocean Grove residents,” she said.
Ocean Grove Community Association president Michael Harbour said the community was initially split on the project but residents and business owners now just wanted the work complete.
“The community’s first preference is for works to recommence and to have the project finished,” he said.
“There were some objections in the planning process but once the project was given the green light everyone just wanted it rolled out. No one is happy about the current situation with a vacant half-finished site sitting there.”
Mr Harbour called for the removal of disused site sheds on the land because they were obstructing road views, presenting a safety hazard to motorists and pedestrians.