Harvey Norman set to expand

LEON Walter has increased his footprint on the Maclean retail landscape with an expanded Harvey Norman store slated for 2011 following the recent purchase of the adjoining premises.

Spirited bidding at the August 8 auction saw the hammer fall on the property previously occupied by the Maclean Bicycle Centre with owner of the Harvey Norman premises Rokamba P/L securing the prime retail real estate for $625,000.

Rokamba managing director Leon Walter said the property had been on the radar of his company for the past few years.

“Rokamba P/L is a local company and has been around for 127 years with this purchase focused on helping our tenants at Harvey Norman expand,” he said.

“The Lower Clarence is a fast growing area and the tenants are on a long-term lease so the expansion will be good for both the tenants and their customers,” he said.

Yet to approach council about the planned increase in floor space for his tenants, Mr Walter said he hoped construction to be finished next year.

“The whole area that was the bicycle shop will be occupied by the tenants Harvey Norman,” he said.

“The wall between the two premises will come down and it will be one big room of consolidated land.”

While fully supportive of a full size supermarket being constructed at Maclean, the Grafton-based property mogul said his company's purchase had nothing to do with that issue.

“I have been waiting for some time for this property to come on the market and the fact that a supermarket may be built at Maclean is purely coincidental,” he said.

“A full-size supermarket would revitalise the Maclean retail area and I hope it goes ahead sooner rather than later.”

Mr Walter said his company, which he inherited two years ago following the passing of his former employer Baden Powell, also owned the Powell Centre in Grafton and the Harvey Norman Grafton premises. Maclean Chamber of Commerce spokesperson Warren Campbell said many retailers of Maclean were excited about the sale.

“It tells you that it may be a bit of life left in Maclean yet,” he said.

“It's a breath of fresh air for Maclean … it's a very good sale because it's to a shop keeper that is willing to expand.”