By Tate Papworth
About 150 carparks are set to be unveiled as Watergardens Town Centre reaches the first major landmark of its $50 million redevelopment.
A large portion of the eastern carpark, which was closed when the redevelopment started in May, will be re-opened to the public tomorrow.
Centre manager Joe Galea said works had progressed ahead of schedule.
“We remain on track to deliver The Marketplace by mid-2020, with the most recent construction milestone, the upgrade of the eastern section of the centre’s carpark, completed ahead of schedule,” Mr Galea said.
“These carpark works significantly enhance customer amenity by flattening the slope of the carpark … installation of new trolley bays and quick-stop parking spots.”
Trees that were removed as part of the upgrade are to be replaced closer to the launch of The Marketplace.
A small section of the eastern carpark will remain closed to provide uninterrupted access to the construction site.
The next stage of the development will include work on the main entrance on the eastern side. The entrance will be boarded up and pedestrians diverted to a temporary entrance as of tomorrow.
The Marketplace project will deliver 5000 square metres of retail space and will include a new playground and a community space.
About 400 jobs are tipped be created during the construction stage and more than 400 new jobs are expected to be delivered once the project is complete.