ISOBEL COLEMAN AND JIM FAGAN
A question mark hangs over Council’s stance on Coles’ proposed Noosa Junction development application after local traders came out in support of it this week.
More than 80 Junction traders signed a petition on Tuesday in favour of the development, despite a recommendation from Mayor Noel Playford and Cr Tony Wellington to refuse it. The Coles’ application calls for a tavern, liquor store, retail shops and salons, offices, adult education and a 26 unit building on the Noosa Bowls Club land which it now owns. Coles has said it will give up some of the land and construct a new two-way entry into the Junction alongside Pinnaroo Park in exchange for council 125-space public car parking area. At Monday’s Noosa Shire Council general committee meeting, a motion by Cr Frank Pardon to defer a decision to allow more talks with community groups and stakeholders was defeated. The committee declared its opposition to the application and there were no dissensions. Mayor Playford said: “What this application does is increase commercial and retail far above what is required. Last year, when a report was done by a professional consultant and sent to Sunshine Coast Council, there was something like 12 per cent to 13 per cent retail vacancy in the Junction and there were reasonably high vacancy rates in Noosaville, Hastings Street and Noosa Civic.” Cr Frank Pardon said he had walked around the Junction, talking to community groups and traders, “trying to get a handle on this vexing issue. “We might end up by refusing the application and that would be fine or we might have a raft of outcomes and be better off. We’ve just been elected and I would just like to hear a bit more.” Supporting Cr Pardon, Cr Bob Abbot said, “I have some concerns because there has been a reasonable amount of work done that has been approved by a previous council with regards to the plans and a considerable amount of work done within the community with regards to this site. I’ve also got some real concerns about our ability to defend a refusal.” Speaking on behalf of the Noosa Junction Traders Association, Sue Pollard said while there were some concerns about the inclusion of another tavern, the majority of traders were in support, believing it would bring more shoppers into the precinct. Noosa Shire Council will discuss the issue tonight.
