Shopping Centre Council of Australia

Shop Talk Newsletter Subscribe to Shop Talk

Friday, 3 February 2006

SCCA SUBMISSION ON SYDNEY AIRPORT’S RETAIL PROPOSALS

The Shopping Centre Council has lodged a submission on Sydney Airport’s draft Major Development Plans for 62,000 square metres of retail, office and/or cinema development on General Holmes Drive. The submission argues that the MDPs should not be approved because they propose development that is contrary to state and local government planning laws and will have a significant adverse impact on surrounding areas, particularly surrounding retail centres and shopping strips. By exempting the airports from state and local planning laws, the Airports Act gives the airports an unfair advantage over other developments. For example, there is no requirement for airports to pay developer contributions towards the cost of necessary infrastructure such as road upgrades. This unfair advantage is not limited to planning laws. Sydney Airport is also exempt from state government trading hours restrictions and will be able to trade on major public holidays, such as Christmas Day, Boxing Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, when other large shops are forced to close. As these are also peak times for air travel, this will no doubt exacerbate traffic congestion around the airport.

NSW GOVERNMENT RELEASES REVISED RETAIL TENANT’S GUIDE

The NSW Government has released the NSW Retail Tenant’s Guide to accompany the amendments to the Retail Leases Act which took effect on 1 January 2006. This is available from the website of the NSW Retail Tenancy Unit here. Although the regulation requiring landlords to provide this Guide, or a copy of the Guide, to prospective lessees (see section 9(1)(b)(ii) and 9(2) of the Act) has not yet been gazetted, it would be prudent for landlords to begin distributing to prospective tenants a copy of the Guide with the proposed lease. Other information relating to the changes to the Act is also available on the same website.

PROPERTY COUNCIL STUDY TOUR IN MAY TO CHINESE CITIES

The Property Council has arranged a study tour to Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing from 7-18 May 2006. The study tour offers insights into all classes of property development in China, including retail property, and includes meetings with relevant officials, including Australian property executives already working in China. The tour also provides free time so participants will have further opportunities to visit some of the stunning new shopping centres that have been built in these cities in recent years. Tour details, and booking form, are available here.

URBIS JHD RETAIL AVERAGES FOR 2004-05 NOW AVAILABLE

The Urbis JHD Retail Averages for 2004-2005, for Regional and Sub-Regional Shopping Centres, have now been released and are available for sale, for $3,300 each, from Urbis JHD by ringing (03) 86634888. The Averages for Neighbourhood Shopping Centres will not be published this year because of insufficient data. This year’s Averages were produced in accordance with the new Shopping Centre Council guidelines for sales and occupancy cost reporting. This has the advantage of now ensuring uniformity in reporting among those centres surveyed. Unfortunately uniformity has come at a price. The new guidelines have meant a break in the series and many of the results this year cannot be compared with previous years’ because of the changes in methodology.