General News
23 September, 2025
Last hurdle removed for new shopping complex
A DECISION by Mareeba Shire Council to support the sale of a small piece of government land critical to the town’s new shopping complex may have removed the last hurdle holding up the $40 million project from becoming a reality.
Developers of the shopping complex, which will host Mareeba’s new Woolworths supermarket, have been trying for years to convince the council to support the freeholding of the 1128sqm parcel to ensure they have secure tenure over the land before building the complex.
The council’s long-awaited decision comes with a condition that the developers, Reedlodge Pty Ltd, which is a part of the Girgenti Group, provide a bank guarantee to the council that will be returned once the slab has been laid.
Mayor Angela Toppin moved the motion in last week’s council meeting after Reedlodge offered to provide the bank guarantee in a last-ditch effort to get the council to support the freeholding of the land.
After the meeting, chief executive officer Peter Franks said the proposal had come from the company on Tuesday.
“They came up with a proposal yesterday afternoon, which council is comfortable with (the bank guarantee) so that the work actually happens,” he said.
While Girgenti Group representative Salvatore Girgenti remains cautious until the council provides a signed document supporting the sale of the land, he is keen to get the project moving.
“We’ve got a builder on board and a full team working in the background so we will be ready to start as soon as possible,” he said.
“Woolworths are 100% on board and totally committed and a few other tenancies for the centre.”
The site will also feature a new fast-food outlet.
Mr Girgenti estimated the complex to be operational by April 2027, with 300 jobs created during the construction phase and 300 ongoing jobs once the centre was fully operational.
“It will also create a lot of confidence that a major retailer like Woolworths is willing to put money into this town,” he said.
“Other retailers will come – you will get the likes of some of the bigger (retail) names coming, it will create a major ripple effect.”
He also believes that Woolworths establishing in Mareeba will bring back those who are choosing to shop out of town.
“Forty per cent of people in Mareeba get their groceries out of town – Atherton and Smithfield – and when people go elsewhere to buy groceries, they buy other things there as well and Mareeba is missing out.
“So even if 20% more start buying here, then that will be a positive for Mareeba.”
Mr Girgenti said one of the key reasons the family company was willing to build the centre was for his father, Sibi, to leave a legacy for the town.
Sibi, who is now 84, moved to the town 60 years ago and after farming for years, he started a real estate business 52 years ago.
“That’s the only reason we are doing it – he wants it for the town that gave so much to him,” he said.
“He moved to Mareeba 60 years ago, it’s home for him and has given him the life he has got and that’s what he wants to leave behind.”
