THE Mount Cotton shopping centre will be about three times its size when an extension is complete.
The new section will include an IGA on par size-wise with the largest IGAs in Queensland and comparable to a standard Coles or Woolworths supermarket.
The extension includes a child care centre providing for 195 children.
The supermarket is expected to open before the end of this year and the child care centre for the first term of next year.
Nine other stores, mostly food related, will be added and some existing stores will expand.
More than 200 new car parks and a second entrance into the centre are included in the plans.
David Kindt, general manager of Jones Retail Group, which owns the Mount Cotton IGA and others in Redlands, said the store would replace their current premises, built only three years ago.
They would employ a further 80 staff members, doubling their numbers.
Mr Kindt said it was a significant development for the Redlands.
“Our original plan for Mount Cotton took into account that the area would grow rapidly but with the success of our first store the development has been fast-tracked,” he said.
Mr Kindt said the Mount Cotton IGA had been recognised as the national IGA store of the year and was well loved by the community.
