Discount store ‘key’

By Sarah Schwager
A DISCOUNT department store would help boost Hampton Park, according to Casey Council.
Development of the Hampton Park Town Centre was discussed at last week’s council meeting.
River Gum Ward councillor Wayne Smith said a study conducted on the future of the shopping centre identified ways of distancing itself from other developing shopping districts, such as Lynbrook.
“It’s very successful now, but we need to look at ways of keeping that as the surrounding areas grow,” Cr Smith said.
“We plan to look at parking, landscaping and ways to connect the (two Hampton Park shopping) centres up better.”
He said council would try to get retailers, traders and the community talking together about how the centre could be improved.
Cr Smith said council would be talking to the owners of the shopping centre to see if and how a discount department store could be achieved.
He said council had been successful in the past in getting the owners of the centre talking.
Recently they decided to employ the same security company, which has since helped reduce crime rates at the shopping centre.
Cr Smith said council had been fully supportive of plans to improve the town centre.
Council voted to endorse the key issues paper on the structure plan for the Hampton Park Town Centre.