Third Shepparton North supermarket not required until 2037: report

By Max Stainkamph

Sep 22, 2022

Showdown: The two competing applications for the second supermarket in Shepparton North.

There won’t be demand for a third supermarket in Shepparton North until 2037, according to a report prepared for council, setting the stage for a showdown of two rival proposals.

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Permission for a second supermarket alongside the existing Fairleys IGA at the intersection of Ford Rd and Nurmurkah Rd has been granted, but hasn’t yet been built.

A redevelopment of that shopping area has been proposed.

The report, called Issues, Opportunities and Emerging Challenges Paper, is a draft paper open to public consultation, which will help shape Greater Shepparton City Council’s strategic plan for Shepparton North.

Council is encouraging residents, businesses and landholders in the area to make submissions before the strategic plan is released next year.

Another shopping complex, featuring a supermarket, was proposed at the intersection of Ford Rd and Numurkah Rd earlier this year.

However, the report said proposals needed to be more ambitious to make the most of the opportunity in Shepparton North.

The revised plan for the IGA site was reviewed by the report as “very much a site-specific, conservative design”.

“The design lacks regard for the prominence of the site as a key gateway and the preferred gateway of the activity centre,” it said.

“It is apparent the revised proposal has been prepared without deliberate regard to the important street interfaces or opportunity for positive land use integration on adjoining or nearby land.

“The concept is heavily car-dependent and there is little opportunity for pedestrian/cycle access, quality open space has not been provided and the proposed community facility is poorly integrated with the retail and other uses.”

The Ford Rd proposal was also criticised in the report despite having pedestrian access and land use interaction.

The report said a lack of street-based access from southern and eastern boundaries would increase reliance on Numurkah Rd, and said the location and connectivity of the proposed childcare centre “requires some review”.

The current proposal for the Ford Rd site would not require rezoning, meaning both it and the two supermarkets at the Hawkins St site could be built under current regulations.

The report called for council to provide more guidance for both proposals and for the entire precinct in general.

Council is encouraging residents, businesses and landholders in the area to make submissions on the report.