A new development application has been lodged for a service station alongside a busy section of the Sunshine Motorway, after one was rejected four years ago.
Paradise Holdings (Qld) Pty Ltd seeks to build the facility on the western side of the road, near the Bli Bli exit, at Pacific Paradise.
The company has essentially submitted a revised plan for the 30.48-hectare site at 479-561 David Low Way after its previous offering for a service centre was rejected by Sunshine Coast Council in late 2022. An appeal was lodged in 2023 but was dismissed in the Planning and Environment Court last year.
The original plan included a service station, three food and drink outlets, 1525sqm gross floor area and 9300sqm hardstand.
A development assessment report, compiled by Project Urban on behalf of Paradise Holdings, stated that the appeal was rejected because of “inappropriate scale and intensity of use, conflict with flood planning strategy, and unacceptable impact on landscape and scenic amenity”.
The new-look proposal features a service station only, and a 70 per cent reduction in gross floor area and hardstand. It would also include large setbacks and extensive screening.
The report said the new plan includes a “reduction in the scale and intensity of the proposed development, removal of a separate food and drink outlet component, improvement in the landscape and scenic amenity outcome, and demonstration of an overriding community need”.
The report also said that there is “a strong level of economic need for the service station at the subject site.”
The motorway carries 57,000 cars and David Low Way carries 18,000 cars daily.
“The proposal would offer substantial benefits to local residents, passing traffic and tourists through the provision of a modern service station with a range of fuel types in a highly accessible location,” the assessment stated.
“There is a recognised shortfall of service stations in the catchment area, let alone one which provides for all segments (including heavy vehicles) and a range of fuel types.”
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The report said the service station and hardstand would not significantly disturb the visual amenity, largely because of their “modest scale” alongside the proposed setbacks and landscaping.
“Photomontages show that the proposed development would have practically no detrimental impact on the existing or intended character of the area, or on the scenic amenity values of the area.”
The report also said “a balanced earthworks solution is proposed” to address any flooding concerns.
Access to the service station would be via new signalised intersection along David Low Way.
The site is across the motorway from the planned Twin Waters West development.
Sunshine Coast News has reached out to Paradise Holdings (Qld) Pty Ltd, via Project Urban, for comments.
