By JONATHON HOWARD
NOOSA Council has approved a new supermarket development next to the Peregian Beach hotel, and councillors are confident the new development is in line with the community’s wishes.
Another developer – Multi Span Australia – has withdrawn its bid to build a shopping centre on a second site in the town – land zoned for community recreation at the site of the old Peregian Beach bowls club.
The residential development on the old Peregian Beach caravan park site will now include a 1600-square metre retail complex, including a mid-range supermarket of 950 square metres.
The locally-based Scanlon Property group had already received approval by court order in 2010 to develop the site for accommodation, some retail and office space.
Of the 37 submissions received, 35 were in favour, including support from the Peregian Beach Community Association and the Peregian Beach Business Association.
Thursday night’s (29 May) council meeting in Pomona gave the go-ahead for a supermarket on the site, after council planning officers advised that there was sufficient economic need for it to overcome planning conflicts.
Council officers found that the Scanlon development next to the hotel was likely to complement the village and contribute to it as a new focal point for the community, without harming existing businesses as much as the rival supermarket bid on the old bowls club site.
The decision means a replacement supermarket for the existing one approved for redevelopment into a restaurant and offices in the village square.
While the approved site is between the Peregian Beach hotel and hardware store, most of the building will be below David Low Way and relatively obscured from the main road.
Planning Committee chairman, Councillor Frank Wilkie, said in a press release that there was a stark comparison between the two rival bids for supermarket developments in Peregian Beach.
“One was on land zoned for community recreation and would have split the Peregian village into two,” he said.
“It galvanised the community in opposition to what they saw as a major threat to their village lifestyle.”He said the approved application was on land already zoned for retail and would replace the convenience store due to be redeveloped.
He said the move was supported by Peregian’s business and community groups and was part of the village commercial centre.
