Courtesy of the Kiama Independent;
PLANNING for a redevelopment in Kiama’s CBD has stalled after negotiations between one of the landowners and the developer reached a crossroads.
Negotiations between Kiama Council, Weston and Co Publishing and developer Winston Langley Burlington started in November to build a new shopping complex at the corner of Shoalhaven and Akuna Sts on the council’s carpark and some of the Weston family’s land.
The proposal was to include a supermarket with a minimum floor space of 2000 square metres.
Kiama Council general manager Michael Forsyth said council was satisfied with its negotiations to date, however Weston and Co Marketing’s negotiations had stalled.
Mr Forsyth said the council met with the 149-year-old company last Friday to discuss the future of the site and Weston and Co wanted to seek expressions of interest from more developers.
“We will have to wait until the next council meeting to ask councillors if they think that’s appropriate,” he said.
“We’re always happy to talk to the developer but it depends on negotiations with the Westons.”
Mr Forysth was disappointed negotiations had not progressed further.
“The development has important public benefits in improving access to Terralong St from the public carpark and attracting another food retailer into town,” he said.
Winston Langley Burlington director Daniel Saab said the company was keen to proceed.
“We’re still actively interested and we’ll be seeking a meeting with the council to try and establish some common ground to remedy the situation,” he said.”The missing piece is the Westons coming on board – they’re the key to the whole redevelopment.”
Weston and Co Publishing director John Weston declined to comment.
