The Star Mail covered the development of an unpopular planning application at the Yarra Junction shopping centre which would see the expansion of the Woolworths kick out the Cortella discount store, swallow up the arcade and move shopfronts to face the car park.
Clea Reynolds, owner of local variety store Cortella, filed a petition opposing the changes after she found out her store was excluded in the planning permit application.
At the 21 October council meeting, councillors “reluctantly” voted to approve the unpopular Woolworths expansion in the Yarra Junction Shopping Centre.
The decision was made in the face of strong push back from business owners and community members, bolstered by a petition with 889 signatures and 54 formal objections made to council.
Paul Little, a planning consultant representing the owner of the Yarra Junction Shopping Centre from law firm Planning and Property Partners, said the expansion would give a “new and improved” retail offering for residents.
But Yarra Junction residents were dismayed at the move, and Ms Reynolds said she was “devastated and disappointed”.
O’Shannassy Ward councillor Jim Child said this application “has weighed heavily” on himself and the other councillors.
Read the full article here: upperyarra.mailcommunity.com.au/news/2025-05-30/anger-at-proposed-changes-to-yarra-junction-shopping-centre/
