Peregian community push is on for proper village rebuild on key corner site

A local group says a prime Peregian site needs to contribute to the economy and to what makes the area such a special gateway to Noosa Shire.

The abandoned Friendly Grocer site at Peregian Beach that developer Andema is keen to rejuvenate.

A Noosa group is urging a “recalcitrant” developer to listen to the council and community’s wishes and build a low-key, attractive retail addition to Peregian Village Square.

Peregian Beach Community Association president Marian Kroon said Andema Pty Ltd already had one attempt to build an oversized, three-storey building with a rooftop restaurant at the Heron Street site, which was knocked back by the Planning and Environment Court.

“It’s well past time for Andema to put up or shut up, so this prime site can once again contribute to the local economy and to what makes Peregian Beach such a special gateway to Noosa Shire,” she said.

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Ms Kroon said Andema was trying to push for more time to act on an expired 2012 approval by Sunshine Coast Council for what potentially could result in a “public eyesore”.

She said the plans outlined by Andema for a “big box” building were out of keeping with the rest of the village, with insufficient setbacks.

“In June 2020 no work had started on the then eight-year-old approval, which had already been extended by four years, so Andema applied yet again for an extension to prevent the approval from lapsing,” Ms Kroon said.

The development plans Sunshine Coast Council previously approved for the Heron Street site in Peregian.

She said the Andema proposal was now out of date in terms of Queensland building codes, with its disability access not compliant.

Andema’s legal counsel Connor O’Meara said the council had found there were sufficient grounds to approve the previous development approval extension.

Mr O’Meara said Andema sought a realistic time frame in which to deliver the development.

He said extending the development approval would “provide for the rejuvenation of a vacant building” that would result in a “high quality streetscape”.

“The centre is a vibrant precinct with a high level of active frontages and pedestrian engagement, and the proposed development responds to that character by providing an appropriate planning outcome,” Mr O’Meara said.

He said the extensive design openings at ground level would give the development a light, open and transparent appearance and the existing development approval was consistent with long standing community expectations.

“The proposed development will facilitate additional investment and economic development in the centre and in Peregian Beach,” he said.