IGA inks lease at Newman retail centre

Newman residents will soon have more shopping options as a new retail centre is on the home stretch to open in the regional town.

BHP Billiton announced today the signing of a lease agreement, with IGA as the anchor tenant of its $30 million Parnawarri Retail Centre in Newman.

BHP Billiton asset president of WA iron ore, Edgar Basto said the $30 million investment into the retail centre was the largest single investment BHP Billiton Iron Ore had made thought its social investment program and took 11 months to build.

“BHP Billiton is committed to investing in and supporting the towns in which it operates and this project gives locals in Newman greater retail choice,” he said.

“The retail centre construction was completed ahead of schedule and within budget.

“We would like to thank Pindan Contracting, APP Project Management and St Bartholomew’s House for their role in delivering this new facility to the Newman community.

“Further tenancy announcements for the centre will be made shortly.”

A Three Springs family is in the process of moving to Newman to open the IGA, which is expected to create about 50 jobs at the grocery store alone.

It is understood Dome will also open in the retail centre as fit-out has begun and it is advertising for positions.

A BHP Billiton spokeswoman said most of the centre’s eight tenancies were expected to be filled by local businesses.

In 2012, a decision was made to build the Parnawarri Retail Centre after several years of feasibility study into the viability of a retail centre.