Cairns shopping centres: Woolworths wins court case, Smithfield Hub decision made
A momentous verdict has been handed down as would-be shopping centre developers go to war for market share in the city’s northern suburbs.
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UPDATE: Cairns Regional Council has unanimously rejected plans to build the Smithfield Hub shopping centre after its would-be developers allowed approvals to lapse.
The decision was made at this morning’s council meeting, with Division 8 councillor Rhonda Coghlan arguing the area could not support another shopping centre.
“To approve this development would create an overlapping of trade and huge impacts on the surrounding retail landscape,” she said.
It was a sentiment shared by Division 9 councillor Brett Olds, who suggested a different kind of project could prove more profitable on the site.
“I think this has been a big gong show in a lot of respects and has caused a lot of confusion out there on the beaches,” he said.
“It’s not all bad news ... I think there could be a higher level of development on that site.
“I do feel for them but I wholeheartedly agree with the recommendation.”
EARLIER: Shopping centre construction plans in the city’s north could be in tatters after approvals were allowed to lapse while Woolworths pushed ahead with a rival development bid.
Trinity Park Investments submitted an application to Cairns Regional Council in April last year to extend its approval to build the Smithfield Hub shopping centre near the McGregor Rd turn-off on the Captain Cook Hwy.
The application was later withdrawn and the approval lapsed on July 31.
The company now wants new permission to go ahead with the project on the site of a former palm tree plantation.
A report before this morning’s council meeting recommends refusal while noting Woolworths won a Planning and Environment Court appeal last week to build its new shopping centre less than 5km up the highway.
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The Cairns Post understands the Woolworths decision – which includes a service station, childcare centre and restaurant – will now go to a Supreme Court appeal led by Smithfield Shopping Centre’s owner.
Either way, the council appears give the Smithfield Hub a green light.
The northern beaches area already has three full-line supermarkets, not including Woolworths’ proposed Trinity Beach centre.
“There is insufficient market support to support two major full line supermarkets at both sites,” the report states.
“The supermarkets would serve a largely overlapping trade area and cause undue impacts upon each other and the surrounding retail network.”
What do you think? Send a letter to letters@cairnspost.com.au
Originally published as Cairns shopping centres: Woolworths wins court case, Smithfield Hub decision made