Panel approves $22 million Woolworths shopping complex in Brabham

A multi-million-dollar shopping complex to be operated by Woolworths has been approved, despite opposition from the local government.

Fabcot, the development arm of Woolworths Group, proposed to build a retail centre with a supermarket and 10 tenancies at 822 Yule-Dean Road in Brabham.

At its meeting Wednesday, the Metro Outer Development Assessment Panel approved the development, estimating its cost at $22 million.

The City of Swan recommended rejecting the development, claiming there was a lack of safe pedestrian connections and inconsistencies in its Brabham District Centre precinct structure plan.

City of Swan councillor Rod Henderson was the only member of the panel to vote against the application, citing traffic problems.

“The applicant needs to go away and assess those things thoroughly,” he said at the meeting.

“We only have part of the story here and they need to go back to the drawing board.”

Despite opposition, four of the five members of the panel voted to approve the proposed Woolworths at Brabham.

Panel chair member Eugene Koltz acknowledged concerns about Yule-Dean Road running through the proposed centre.

“It is not unusual for major roads to pass through district centres… [like] traffic is going through Joondalup Centre, Whitford Centre,” he said.

“These things happen; perhaps it’s a pity.

“[But] This area has been undergoing iterations for many years.

The proposed Woolworths supermarket will cover 3,732 square metres, and the total lettable area of ​​the shopping centre is estimated to be 4,968 square metres.

Urbis compiled the development application on behalf of Fabcot.

“The proposal is considered to be a catalyst for community development as part of the continued development of the Brabham Retail Town Centre,” the application states.