Bunnings Warehouse at Fyshwick is to become a trades centre.
Those who thought two Bunnings Warehouse outlets within 10km of each other was too good to be true were right. But at least the Fyshwick store is not closing in the wake of Bunnings opening its new Airport site.
Fyshwick is to be repurposed as a trades centre, with a significantly less general retail offering and the airport site expected to capture the majority of retail activity, according to a development application.
“The proposed alterations and additions to the Fyshwick Bunnings warehouse store coincides with the 2016 purchase and current fit-out of the former Masters site located at Canberra International Airport,” the application says.
“Since acquiring the Airport site, Bunnings has reviewed the current retail and trade offering within the ACT and surrounding regions and have decided to re-purpose the Fyshwick operation to provide for more goods and services aimed at trade related retailing.”
The proposed alterations and additions will reconfigure and significantly reduce the amount of existing general retail goods offering within the warehouse building to enable an expansion of the trade goods and materials for sale.
The bulky goods retail area will lose about 1000 square metres of space, according to the plans.
The proposed site plan for Bunnings Fyshwick shows a reduced retail area, the new nursery location and the expanded trades space. Image from the DA.
The outdoor nursery area at the rear of building will be relocated to the front so that space can be converted into a bulk trade delivery loading and unloading area for the retail operation and truck queuing area.
The new, slightly smaller nursery at the front will be an open structure partially covered by a shade sail canopy suspended between steel columns and 3.6m high chain mesh fence.
A new opening, roller shutter door and canopy is to be installed at the front (western side) of the building to incorporate five internal loading/parking bays.
The DA also proposes changes to the existing floorplate to allow part of the retail area to be transformed into the trade centre to cater for the expansion of trade services.
Six new car spaces will be created from existing walkways, and signage will be updated and relocated.
The proposed alterations will not increase the total floor space or building height.
Bunnings would not elaborate on changes to the general retail offering or staff arrangements, saying only that a final decision had not been made.
Bunnings General Manager, Property Andrew Marks said in a statement: “We have submitted a development application to provide us with options for how we best use our Fyshwick store. Once a final decision has been made, we will update our team and the local community.”
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