Sunshine Coast development: Coolum Beach’s Barns Lane Farm under consideration for approval

A proposal for a food, produce and entertainment hub is being considered by Sunshine Coast Council planning officers as they weigh up if it should be approved.

Planning officers are considering if Sunshine Coast Council should approve a major agribusiness and tourist venture proposed for the entry to Coolum Beach.

The Barns Lane Farm proposal has reached a crucial stage as the Brisbane developers await council’s decision on its plans to transform the 6ha block into a food, produce and entertainment hub.

Residents and businesses have largely supported Jason and Helen Grant and Jonathan Leishman’s plans since they lodged the development application in February.

Fifteen submissions were made during the community consultation period, all of which were positive.

The new development was proposed to feature a food and produce hall, stage, nursery, a boutique hotel, restaurants, a distillery and breweries.

The hall will feature up to 50 stalls with one to six month licenses offering farmers and producers a new way to sell or advertise their products and farm stay experiences.

“The core of Barns Lane Farm is the produce hall, we see that as being a place to showcase the region’s producers and being a catalyst for tourism back into the hinterland,” Mr Grant told the Daily in June.

“It will be a place people can learn about farm-stay experiences.”

The site had a controversial history with it formerly earmarked as a Bunnings Warehouse.

Former Maroochy and Sunshine Coast councils refused Bunnings’ three development applications to build a warehouse, service station and restaurant in 2006, 2012 and 2016 on grounds the development did not comply with the planning scheme.

The refusals were upheld in the Planning and Environment Court and finally the Supreme Court of Queensland, which dismissed Bunnings’ appeal in November, 2019.

Before that, the block was used to feed llamas.

Pending council approvals the developers hoped to start earthworks before Christmas with construction to take about 10 to 12 months.