A new shopping centre anchored by a fast-food outlet has been proposed for a beachside town, with plans including a 24-hour drive-thru.
An application has been lodged with Sunshine Coast Council for an integrated commercial development at 11 South Coolum Road, Coolum Beach, featuring multiple tenancies and a standalone food and drink outlet expected to be operated by Hungry Jack’s.
Submitted by SCR Projects Pty Ltd, the proposal seeks a material change of use for the 6072sqm site, which is currently occupied by an industrial shed and largely concrete hardstand.
Planning documents show the development has already been scaled back following feedback from council, with an earlier proposal for a 1500sqm supermarket scrapped.
Council had also raised concerns about the inclusion of a drive-thru, noting it was not typically consistent with the intent of the Local Centre zone or Coolum’s coastal village character.
The revised plan includes three detached buildings with four tenancies, including a 236sqm fast-food outlet with a drive-thru designed to accommodate at least 12 vehicles.
The outlet is proposed to operate 24 hours a day, with planners arguing the site’s location on a busy distributor road makes it suitable for round-the-clock use.
Sunshine Coast News has contacted Hungry Jack’s for comment.
Other tenancies would be spread across two buildings at the front and northern sections of the site, intended for retail uses, while a larger building at the rear includes a rooftop level for additional customer or retail space.
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The development would provide 91 car parks and replace three existing driveways with a single access point onto South Coolum Road.
The site sits about 350 metres from the Sunshine Motorway and 250 metres from Yandina-Coolum Road, within an established commercial area.
Planning documents show the site is affected by flood and drainage constraints, with supporting reports stating the development can be designed to avoid increased risk to people or property.
The land is also within an acid sulfate soils area, meaning further investigation and management measures would be required as part of the development.
Some elements of the proposal do not fully meet planning scheme requirements, including a minor shortfall in landscaping and reduced front setbacks, though the applicant argues these are acceptable under performance-based assessment.
An economic assessment submitted with the application claims the area is currently underserved by drive-thru food outlets and that the development would meet local demand without impacting nearby centres.
The development is impact assessable under the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme, therefore will undergo a public notification period. Residents will be able to review the plans and make submissions before council makes a final decision.
The application remains under review, with supporting reports addressing traffic, environmental impacts and economic need.
Division 8 councillor Taylor Bunnag said it would be inappropriate to comment while the application is under assessment.
