CityBeat - Te Waha Nui Online

by Veronica Johnston

Westfield opens its new $210 million 7ha mall in Albany this week.

The 142-shop mall will generate 1500 new retail jobs with 10 theatres, Farmers, K-Mart, New World and onsite parking for 2300 cars.

The new mall is just south of the North Harbour Stadium opposite Massey University.

Albany has reportedly become the fastest growing area in North Shore City.  In 2001, 21,612 people lived in the area, up 55.9 per cent on 1996.

But not everyone is excited about the mall as reported in the Herald recently. The Herald’s aerial photograph of the centre drew strong reader opposition.

“How absolutely ghastly. Do we really need more shops?” asked one reader.

Another questioned how popular the mall would be in a city that already has a 6.5ha Sylvia Park shopping centre.

Justin Lynch, Westfield’s deputy director, told the Herald that the area has a young white-collar population with high retail spending capacity.

One young, white-collar Massey University lecturer with a “limited retail spending capacity” has mixed feelings about the mall.

“Traffic along the northern motorway has already increased dramatically and this new mall is only going to further increase the congestion.

“But on the positive side, I’m sure it will be a great success as many Kiwis will no doubt embrace a new shopping experience in the area,” said the lecturer.

The drive from the Auckland CBD to Albany takes 15 minutes.

Hopefully it won’t take any longer when the mall opens – otherwise, why bother?