The refurbishment covers an area of 11,000m2 and updates the current shopping and dining mall space to be a ‘less cluttered’ open environment designed for pedestrian flow, new entertainment areas and for the community to utilise the current facilities with new street furniture. 
A critical element of the project was ensuring that shops remained open at all times and access and egress was not compromised. The site team had to be mindful of crucial shopping periods such as Christmas and January sales. With more than 8000 members of the public using the mall on a daily basis, ramping up to 10,000 on Fridays and weekends, detailed planning of the works was essential. 
The local Emergency Services crews required a clear emergency service route through the mall be maintained at all times. 
A detailed Traffic Management Plan (TMP) was developed to ensure the safety of the public during construction. Way-finding signage was reviewed daily. 
A dedicated traffic management team handled all deliveries. During concrete pours and other significant deliveries, trucks used a waiting zone a kilometre away of Swan Street. The deliveries were managed on a ‘one-in, one-out’ basis.
A full-time liaison officer held regular meetings with shop owners and Emergency Services personnel and through letter drops and emails ensured that everyone was kept informed of upcoming works.
The refurbishment of the mall required upgrading of underground infrastructure drainage, excavation, concrete works, tiling, street lighting and new street furniture (equipped with connection to electricity, water supply, public address, internet and data).
The work had to be carried out while Crown Street was kept open to all shops and Emergency Services vehicles with the site exposed to inclement weather throughout the contract period of 21 months.
Lahey Constructions and the dedicated site team are to be congratulated on overcoming all the construction difficulties encountered on this complex project. They have produced a very well-finished, vibrant and spacious new mall for Wollongong.