Gold Coast Costco store redesigned in bid for council approval

A giant Costco shopping outlet proposed for the Gold Coast has been redesigned in a bid to get planning permission over the line with council. SEE HOW IT'S CHANGED

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A GIANT Costco shopping outlet has been redesigned in a bid to secure council approval so it doesn’t look like an “ugly box”.

The proposed retail mecca, earmarked for a site near Coomera Town Centre, has been revamped to look more like a shopping centre and less of a warehouse.

Costco has filed a response to council’s request for more information about the project, including how it would manage significant traffic in and out of the site, as well as concerns about water runoff through the Westfield Coomera precinct.

Area councillor and Deputy Mayor Donna Gates welcomed the redesign and said she hoped to see the first sod turned as fast as possible.

“The community is wildly excited about Costco coming here and we hope that everything can be resolved really quickly so they can get on with building it,” she said. “Getting the redesign was important and it is encouraging  they were prepared to go so far to ensure the appeal of the building and the fantastic offerings which will be available.

“It is going to be there a long time so it is far better to have something which looks right rather than an ugly box.”

Costco filed a development application with the Gold Coast City Council in August 2020 to build a warehouse on a 13,620sq m site at Westfield’s Coomera Town Centre. The Bulletin revealed this month there had been no progress on the project despite construction being expected to begin in early 2021.

The wholesale retail giant, which already has one outlet in north Brisbane and another in Ipswich, last year secured an agreement with Scentre Group and Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) to start construction of a warehouse and petrol station complex this year. The project is expected to create 330 full-time and part-time positions through both the construction period and once it opens.

It will come with a 750-bay car park.

Costco managing director Patrick Noon said in 2020 that Coomera was the “perfect location” for the shop.

“We now look forward to obtaining our approvals and then commencing construction,” he said at the time.

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PLANS for a giant Costco shopping outlet in the northern Gold Coast appear to have stalled a year on from the managing director saying they wanted to progress it as soon as possible.

There has been no progress on the multimillion-dollar project more than a year after it was announced.

Costco filed a development application with the Gold Coast City Council in August 2020 to build a warehouse on a 13,620sq m site at Westfield’s Coomera Town Centre.

Construction was expected to begin in early 2021 but the Bulletin can reveal the retail outlet has not yet been approved by council.

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Artist's impression of the 13,620sqm Costco Wholesale Warehouse and Costco service station

The wholesale retail giant, which already has one outlet in north Brisbane and another in Ipswich, last year secured an agreement with Scentre Group and Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) to start construction of a warehouse and petrol station complex this year.

But a Scentre Group spokeswoman said this week: “We don’t have an update to share at this stage”.

Deputy Mayor and area councillor Donna Gates said discussions were still ongoing about traffic issues in the area.

“The applicant has responded to council’s information request and (our) officers maintain support for the proposed land use and the development concept,” she said.

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The project was announced more than a year ago.

“Officers are currently in discussions with (Costco) in order to facilitate a traffic design which integrates with council’s transport network planning.”

The project is expected to create 330 full-time and part-time positions through both the construction period and once it opens.

It will come with a 750-bay car park.

At the time, Costco managing director Patrick Noone said the rapidly growing northern Gold Coast was the “perfect location” for a new store.

“We are delighted to secure this site in the Gold Coast and continue our growth in the state,” he said in August 2020.

“We think we have found the perfect location within Coomera Town Centre and we now look forward to obtaining our approvals and then commencing construction and getting open to the community as soon as possible thereafter.”

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Originally published as Gold Coast Costco store redesigned in bid for council approval