Motel demolished for Woolies

Machinery has rolled in to knock down Cabarita Beach Motel today. It's the final building to be removed to make way for a new supermarket.

John Gass /TWE210212cab

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DEMOLITION excavators took down the final building on the site for the new Woolworths at Cabarita today as the Cabarita Beach Motel came down.

The Mainbrace demolition company has been carefully preparing the site for demolition over the past two weeks.

Residents and passers by watched as the last icon of the old Cabarita fell.

"It's strange to see it all happening," said regular visitor James Munday.

"It's sad in some ways.

"But it's also quite exciting and I'm looking forward to having a big supermarket here.

"I hope the businesses that already exist don't get impacted too much.

"I'd hate to see them go.

"There's a real village atmosphere here."

The Bogangar Auto Centre was demolished along with the former post office and youth service building last week.

The demolition will clear the way for a new shopping complex that includes a Woolworths supermarket and BWS liquor store.

The three-storey development will occupy a 5485sq m property with street frontage to Tweed Coast Rd and Hastings Rd.

Woolworths will be housed in a 2300sq m tenancy, which includes a 200sq m mezzanine office level, and the remaining 1100sq m of retail space will be spread across up to 17 tenancies.

It's not clear at this stage which services will operate from the site, but several banks, medical professionals, food retailers and fashion outlets have been approached for expressions of interest in leasing.

Parking was one factor of concern to residents as well as increased traffic.

The project will have parking for 204 vehicles.

Two lifts will provide access from the basement to the floors above.

A tunnel under the development will allow vehicle and pedestrian access for nearby properties.