Development Victoria releases snapshot of Junction Place revised master plan

Development Victoria has released a sneak peak of the newlook master plan following rising community opposition to the dumping of plans for a cinema and entertainment complex at the corner of Elgin Boulevard and Smythe Street for a Dan Murphy's bottle shop.

An alternate location for the cinema fronting High Street and sitings for the hotel and market hall capable of hosting large community events and cinema have been identified, but there are no definitive timelines yet.

A retail precinct incorporating the proposed bottle shop is also shown in the plans

Development Victoria, Wodonga Council and Junction Place developers have been working on the revised master plan for eight months.

They will be released to the community in coming weeks.

The bottle shop plans are expected to be presented to councillors for determination next month, but council chief executive Mark Dixon confirmed the revised revised master plan wouldn't follow the same path.

"The revised master plan is not required to come before the council for determination," he said.

"A planning permit application for the revised plan and hotel has been submitted for consideration.

"There is no set timeframe on when this process will be concluded.

"We encourage the community to take up the opportunity being offered by Development Victoria to find out more at an upcoming information session."

Development Victoria's group head Geoff Ward said.it was keen to hear community feedback to the updated master plan for the former railway corridor land released a decade ago.

"We acknowledge a cinema has been proposed and a permit issued on the corner of Elgin Boulevard and Smythe Street, however, due to market conditions, the developer and cinema operator have been unable to commence this development.

"We want to assure the community that there is an absolute commitment to delivering a cinema and entertainment precinct and the developer is having ongoing discussions with cinema operators for a new location."

Mr Ward said the refreshed Junction Place master plan was with council for consideration.

"It is important to note the refreshed master plan reflects the original vision developed with the community at the start of this long-term project.," he said.

"The only changes are to the timing, location and scale of various parts of the original plan to reflect the current environment and ensure the project's continued success."

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