By Danny Buttler
THE opening of Pakenham’s $80 million shopping centre development could be delayed by up to two months.
The wet summer and soggy start to autumn has seen the massive construction project fall behind schedule.
An opening in early 2012 is now expected.
Project manager Mark Prowse, from Robert Luxmoore Project Management, said the weather was the reason the scheduled opening might be put back by a couple of months.
“It wasn’t really a summer, so they probably lost a bit of time, which is why it is probably an early next year opening, “ he said.
Apart from the delays caused by wet weather, Mr Prowse said the project was running smoothly.
“It’s going pretty well, things are progressing well in accordance to plan,” he said,
“The basement work has gone well and the roof has gone on.”
Mr Prowse said issues with parking and traffic management had been worked out between the construction company and local residents and traders.
“Any issues that do arise, we are onto it straight away,” he said.
“With car parking and traffic management issues, there’s been plenty of notice to traders and residents.”
“From that point of view we haven’t had any major problems.”
The Pakenham Marketplace development will deliver a new Woolworths supermarket, a Big W department store and specialty shops on a 2.9 hectare parcel of land bounded by John Street, Henry Street, Cook Drive and Treloar Lane.
The proposal is expected to create 700 new jobs and 1108 car parking spaces – including underground car parking – in central Pakenham, along with a host of expanded shopping opportunities.
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