Plans for Palmwoods’ first Coles supermarket rejected by Sunshine Coast Council

Residents of a Sunshine Coast community will have to continue to travel out of town for their groceries after the council rejected plans for a highly-anticipated supermarket.

A proposal to build a Coles supermarket in Palmwoods as been rejected. Pictured: NeuBau Group director Tim Reed

A community advocate has expressed her disappoint over the council’s “crazy” decision to reject a proposal for a town’s first full-line supermarket after residents rallied to secure approval.

Sunshine Coast councillors examined NeuBau Group’s proposal to build a Coles supermarket, liquor store and connecting roundabout in Palmwoods at the ordinary meeting on Thursday, August 29.

The development would have become the town’s first fully-fledged supermarket, with residents currently having to travel to Nambour or Maroochydore for their weekly grocery hauls.

Residents had rallied to gain approval, sending in submissions to the council with pleas to give the proposal the green light.

However, councillors on Thursday concluded they would not approve the supermarket plans.

Artist concepts of the new Coles proposed for Palmwoods, including shopfront and Click and Collect area.

Council planning staff stated the proposal would provide convenience and employment but identified risk of flooding as a key issue.

They noted the development would not be “compatible with future residential developments” and recommended to refusal.

An approval for a set of 55 units is currently in place for the site.

With the application receiving 224 submissions in favour and 10 against the proposal, councillor Winston Johnston said there is no doubt the community wants the shopping centre but he had received three emails that morning asking for the plans to be rejected.

He and councillor Ted Hungerford commented over the need to adhere to the town plan, with the block designated as a medium-density residential zone.

“No doubt we will finish up in court,” Mr Johnston said.

Councillor Joe Natoli said it would “destroy the uniqueness to the village,” comparing it to the loss of the “small village” feel in Beerwah.

A Palmwoods resident who wished to stay anonymous labelled the rejection as “crazy,” “ridiculous” and “bad planning”.

“It’s unbelievable to me that they rejected it,” she said.

Site plan for a new Coles proposed for Palmwoods.

The resident said with a nearby retirement village expanding and the suburb’s population expected to increase, all new residents will want a local supermarket.

She was surprised to hear the rejection, with fears the proposal for 55 units will go ahead which comes with “ugly fencing” and roofs peeking over the top, she said.

The resident noted the supermarket development would not have hindered other Palmwoods businesses and, being essentially in the middle of town by a main road, would have allowed residents to walk for their shopping trips.

She said the Department of Transport and Main Roads will surely also be disappointed to not have a roundabout built for them, which residents also heavily advocated for.

She slammed council, saying the units would be more financially beneficial to the council than a supermarket.

NeuBau Group director Tim Reed has been contacted for comment.