Shopping centre set for expansion

By Kelly Yates
RE-DEVELOPMENT works at Hampton Park Shopping Centre are set to take shape early next year.
The improvements to the retail image of the centre, at the corner of Hallam and Somerville roads, will be extended to include eight new retail shops and have improved car parking, lighting and garden landscaping.
Some of the new shops being considered for the centre, which is also home to a newly upgraded Safeway supermarket, include a cafe, family fashion store, greengrocer, florist, hair and beauty and a community bank.
The works, which are expected to start in February 2010, will take about six months to complete, according to Centre One director Luke DeLutis.
Mr DeLutis told the News it had been 11 years since the centre’s last refurbishment.
He said the aim of the planned changes was to have more choices for local families.
“We realise it’s time to bring the centre up to today’s shopping centre standards,” he said.
“We’re hoping to see an increase in amount of traffic flow as we’ll have new signage to attract people driving past the centre.”
Mr DeLutis said trading at the centre would be running as usual during the construction works.
Trader Andy Edmonds, who is part owner of Central Park Meats, said the centre was in desperate need of the re-development.
“We need something new to bring customers to the centre as business is a bit quiet,” Mr Edmonds said.
River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith said the upgrade was great news for the City of Casey.
The Hampton Park Shopping Centre is a member of the Casey Business Development Group.