Shopping centre ‘nearly situation normal’

UPDATE: Whitsunday Shopping Centre has confirmed that the entirety of Island Dr is now open to traffic.

ORIGINAL: THE shoppers are back, the carpark has reopened and normality is returning to the Whitsunday Shopping Centre.

With the former Target store demolition works close to completion, the centre is looking to the future.

Knight Frank Townsville and Mackay managing director Craig Stack said things were almost business as usual.

“It’s nearly situation normal, other than we now have a pad rather than the shops that were there,” he said.

Residents near the centre will soon have full access to the area as well, with Island Drive set to reopen shortly.

“So within a week or so, a few days, Island Dr will be back to the normal environment,” Mr Stack said.

It’s still “early days yet” as to what will happen with the vacant site, Mr Stack explained.

“SCA will engage with the larger tenants that were in there,” he said.

The Breakthrough Group have confirmed that the debris from the demolition, both the steel and the concrete, will be recycled locally and in Mackay.

The centre will host a community day with jumping castles, stalls and activities on Saturday, May 7.