The council has unanimously knocked back a major development for a Coles supermarket, homemaker centre and large fast-food outlet like McDonald’s on the outskirts of Beerwah.
The three joint applications were considered to have “irresolvable” conflicts with the Sunshine Coast planning scheme as they were earmarked for an area that was not designated for shopping.
Councillors also feared the proposed Coles precinct, which was outside the town centre on the corner of Roys Road and Steve Irwin Way, would have a “cannibalising” effect on existing businesses as it would create a new retail centre away from the Beerwah CBD.
The development application by Coles Group Property Developments requested a Material Change of Use to allow a full-line Coles supermarket, a homemaker showroom, service station and fast food outlet.
Currently the site is used to farm strawberries and is bordered to the south by green space backing onto Coochin Creek. It’s located opposite Beerwah’s Moroney Place industrial zone, near the lights at 8 Roys Road.
Council officers recommended the application be refused because it was out of character with the strategic plan and the developer sought a variation to the planning scheme to alter the area’s medium impact industrial zoning.
It was also a major “out-of-centre” development that would undermine the existing business activity precinct and “result in Beerwah having a fragmented, disconnected and unwalkable centre, to the detriment of its character, identity, functionality, and viability”.
Thirdly, the proposal would have meant losing much-needed industrial zoned land which would “severely compromise and frustrate the integrity and the potential of the Beerwah Sub-Regional Industry and Enterprise Area being realised”.
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Division 1 councillor Rick Baberowski said although people may have wanted to have a Coles and McDonald’s near Beerwah, the proposal was not the right fit for that location.
“All three do not comply nor can they be conditioned to comply,” he said.
Cr Baberowski said the opening of the Bells Creek arterial road in 2022 would give Beerwah residents quicker access to similar shopping centres without impacting the amenity of the town.
The future proposed Beerwah East master planned estate would also have opportunity for future retail which would be more in keeping with strategic planning, he said.
“I am very sure the community will still feel they would like to have the convenience of a supermarket and fast food but Bells Creek arterial road will be delivered next year and that will provide speedy access to commercial centres there in nine or ten minutes and will have a broad offer of major shopping and homemaker centres via that road,” said Cr Baberowski.
Cr Baberowski said it would have been a mistake to allow the Coles development which would fragment the town’s shopping and was “not needed now and unlikely to be needed for years to come”.
He said constructing a retail centre on the fringe of town would have the effect of “cannibalising” existing businesses.
Councillor David Law said it was important not to repeat the mistake that had been made in Nambour when larger commercial retailers were allowed to “split” the town.
“The town is still struggling to come back from that with many empty leases,” he said.
“We can’t change the past for Nambour but in relation to Beerwah this will potentially repeat the errors of Nambour.”
