Vanessa Hall  
Editor  

A NEW retail development with provisions for a Hungry Jack’s with a drive-thru has been proposed for the parcel of land next to the existing Woolworths site in Coolum.

Division 8 Councillor Taylor Bunnag stated that Council had received a development application (DA) for 11 South Coolum Road, Coolum Beach.

The DA is for an integrated shopping centre comprising three detached buildings and accommodating a total of four tenancies, which are intended to deliver retail shops and a single food and drink outlet.

“The intended operator for the proposed food and drink outlet is Hungry Jack’s,” Cr Bunnag stated.

“The business is intended to operate on a 24/7 basis with a drive-thru.

“As this is an ‘impact assessable’ development application, the proponent will be required to notify a period in the future when residents can make submissions.”

In documents submitted to Council on behalf of the developer, the ‘Economic Need and Impact Assessment’ report states that “SCR Pty Ltd (the applicant) proposes to develop a 236.5m2 drive-through Food and Drink Outlet and other retail (~1,226m2), plus 370m2 of non-retail uses on a mezzanine at 11 South Coolum Road, Coolum Beach. The subject site is zoned Local Centre.”

The report cites a growing population as one of the main drivers for the proposed development.

“The subject development will seek to address the current need and anticipated demand growth for additional food and drink retail in the MTA (main trade area). Overall, the proposed development would improve the range of services available to the community without any adverse economic impacts.

“It is concluded that there is a strong need for the proposed development at the subject site.”

When news of the DA was posted on the Advertiser Facebook page, commentary was mixed, with many citing that traffic congestion was already a major issue in that area and that any development of this size would exacerbate the problem.

A Traffic Impact Assessment Report, which has also been uploaded as part of the DA, addresses these points with detailed analysis and projections.

“The analysis undertaken by the project team has confirmed that the development would have a minor impact only on the adjacent road network… The analysis has considered the impacts on the development on the state-controlled road network and, in particular, the intersection of Yandina Coolum Road / South Coolum Road. While this analysis showed the net delay impacts are in the order of 10%, we do not believe that there are any immediately warranted upgrades that would be effective and within a reasonable cost, noting that the intersection was subject to a recent significant upgrade by the State.

“On the basis of the analysis undertaken by the project team, we believe that development is appropriate and acceptable from a traffic perspective.”

As previously stated, the DA is impact assessable and will be subject to a period of public consultation where submissions from locals can be made.

To view the full DA, visit Sunshine Coast Council’s website at www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au and search for ‘development I’ and search for ’11 South Coolum Road’.