Hawker shops proposal needs housing, government tells Woolworths

Woolworths has been told it will need to include housing in its proposed redevelopment of the Hawker shops, which is in line with the ACT Government’s strategy for mixed-use development at local centres.

Minister Chris Steel updated the Legislative Assembly on Woolworths’ bid for direct sale of land at the centre to enable its planned two-storey redevelopment that would include a larger supermarket, new shops, offices, basement parking and an improved playground.

In a statement that also sent a message to other would-be developers at suburban shopping centres, Mr Steel said the current proposal was not considered to have met the strategic objectives, policy setting or community benefit for key, mixed-use commercial group centres the government expected.

“It also does not meet the outcomes outlined in my Statement of Planning Priorities, the District Strategies, and the government’s 2024 Election Commitment relating to an additional 30,000 dwellings by 2030, including more shop-top housing as part of centre revitalisation,” Mr Steel said.

He said that last week, the government had advised Woolworths of its position but had left the door open for a revised proposal that reflected the government’s expectations for revitalised local shops before any decision on a direct sale of land.

The Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate had written to Woolworths to clarify these expectations and asked it to discuss any new proposal with the Hawker community.

Mr Steel said that he had already flagged reforms to allow larger-scale, medium-density housing in well-located areas close to services, shops and transport.

“Similar to European cities, this is intended to support human-scale housing, that will promote access to public transport, renewal of shopping centres and the public spaces around them,” he said.

“The most obvious locations for this type of renewal are in our town and group centres.”

Mr Steel said ESPDD was also conducting and commissioning a number of studies at the Hawker Group Centre on subsurface investigations, remnant trees, contamination and parking.

ESPDD’s assessments were expected to be completed by 30 June 2025 and would help the government decide if the land should be sold, whether it be done directly or via the market, and whether any new Woolworths proposal should be considered.

“Should the Woolworths direct sale eventually be supported, these studies will also help inform the future release of any appropriate land at the Group Centre not accounted for within that sale,” Mr Steel said.

Woolworths wants to acquire seven parcels of land for its redevelopment proposal at Hawker, which will involve the demolition of the current supermarket and the buildings between it and Hawker Place.

Opposition planning spokesperson Peter Cain told the Assembly any land sale should be a market process to get the best result for ACT taxpayers.

“Why the special treatment?” he asked.

Mr Cain also called on the government to consult properly with the Hawker community.

Mr Steel said the Planning Act allowed for direct sale applications, which had to be considered according to law.

He also said the studies being done by EPSDD would enhance community consultation, not just on the proposed Woolworths site but other sites across the Hawker Group Centre.

“That work is actually critical to enabling any future consultation with the community on what might occur at the Hawker shops,” Mr Steel said. “If we don’t know what’s actually possible, we won’t actually be able to bring forward something for the community to have their say on.”

A Woolworths spokesperson said the company would now take time to assess the government’s feedback and consider feasible development options.

“We are confident of the community benefit and value that will be delivered through the redevelopment,” the spokesperson said.

“We’ve engaged extensively with the community and this will continue, with updated information also shared on the Hawker Village website.”