St Ives Mall expansion “contingent” on council selling public roads to developer

The firm behind the St Ives Shopping Village redevelopment has announced the project would only go forward if council is willing to sell it public roads.

What happened: The first impressions of what a revamped St Ives Shopping Village could look like have been released by Iris Capital, which describes itself as “a developer and hospitality group”. 

Iris Capital, headed by billionaire publican Sam Arnaout, purchased the shopping village earlier this year for $450 million. 

What will it look like: If implemented, the plan would see the mall expanded towards Mona Vale Road, the construction of a cinema and increased underground parking.

But the entire project hinges on the council selling off public roads to the developer. 

• These include surrounding thoroughfares such as Denley Lane and Durham Avenue, which would allow the mall to be extended to Mona Vale Road. 

• Ku-ring-gai council is considering an application from Iris Capital to buy the roads, and the proposal is currently on for public exhibition.

The expansion would allow current tenants such as Woolworths, Coles and Harris Farm to expand their retail footprint, and for the establishment of an outdoor dining area overlooking the St Ives Village Green. 

Separate from the mall, but part of the larger redevelopment, are plans for an adjacent “St Ives Tavern” on Mona Vale Road.

Pokies inbound: Artist impressions of the proposed tavern show an upmarket hospitality venue with lush outdoor beer garden and exposed brick interiors. What isn’t depicted in these impressions is the 200-plus square metres that would be dedicated to pokies.

In order to set up a pokies lounge, Iris Capital would either have to purchase poker machine licences from other businesses in New South Wales, or transfer licences from its many existing venues in the state, which include Manly’s Hotel Steyne, the Cabramatta Hotel, Parramatta’s General Bourke Hotel and the Golden Tiger Hotel in Hurstville.