Coles Sunshine Coast: Legal battle looms as supermarket giant appeals Sunshine Coast Council refusal of Beerwah plans

A retail giant will challenge a Sunshine Coast Council refusal of its plans to develop a homemaker centre, supermarket and more in a growing suburb.

A supermarket giant thwarted in its bid to expand into a hinterland town will take its fight to the courtroom.

Coles has launched a Planning and Environment Court appeal against Sunshine Coast Council’s refusal of its plans to develop a homemaker centre with shopping centre, service station, food and drink outlet and four-lot subdivision.

Court documents showed the appeal was lodged on August 25 in Brisbane by Coles Group Property Developments Limited.

The council rejected the company’s series of applications to develop a homemaker centre, service station, food and drink outlet and a four-lot subdivision.

The reasons for the appeal were outlined in a series of documents filed with the court.

In relation to the proposed service station and food and drink outlet lawyers on behalf of Coles submitted that there was “community, planning and economic need” for the new facilities.

Other submissions in favour of approval included that the proposal would support the delivery of the Beerwah East, would improve the social, physical and social wellbeing of Beerwah and surrounding residents and would provide a recognisable entry to the town from Steve Irwin Way.

Some of the concepts for the new development.

It was also argued the four-lot subdivision could be approved with conditions and should also be given the green light upon appeal.

The proposed homemaker centre and full-line supermarket was set to bring increased choice, convenience and competition and provide additional employment to the hinterland town, lawyers argued in the appeal documents.

The council’s reasons for refusal included that the proposed homemaker centre would result in a significant loss of industry-zoned land and the proposed development was “premature” and would significantly impact planning and delivery of centres within the Beerwah Major Development Area.

The council decision also stated that approval would lead to a “fragmented, disconnected and unwalkable” centre in Beerwah as the proposed development would draw retail trade away from the existing business centre.

The proposal had sparked some controversy in the township with 40 of 50 submissions made opposing the plans.

A development application to establish a Coles supermarket and petrol station in Beerwah was refused by Sunshine Coast Council. Coles will now appeal the refusal.

Small business owners said they’d been through a two-year ordeal waiting to learn whether or not the project would proceed, fearing they may be shut down if it went ahead.

Councillors voted to refuse the application in July, 2021.

A Coles spokeswoman this week said they believed the new development would be highly beneficial to the area.

““We believe Coles’ investment in a new development, which includes a supermarket, homemaker centre, petrol station and fast food restaurant, would deliver significant benefits to the local community by creating jobs and a new exciting shopping experience for residents,” the spokeswoman said.

A Sunshine Coast Council spokesman said no further comment could be made as the matter was before the Planning and Environment Court.