QLD’s first COVID-safe supermarket on hold while court rules on Logan council refusal

The construction of Queensland’s first COVID-safe drive-through supermarket and cinema complex is on hold after a southside council stopped it to protect nearby shopping centres.

An artist’s impression of the end result.

The construction of Queensland’s first COVID-safe drive-through supermarket and cinema complex is on hold after a southside council stopped it to protect nearby shopping centres.

Holmview Central Shopping Centre owners have plans for an $80million extension including a state-of-the-art COVID-safe “click and collect” grocery drive-through, designed to cut out all contact between staff and customers.

But the project is currently shelved while it awaits a decision from the Planning and Environment Court on whether it can proceed.

Logan City Council rejected Lancini Group’s Holmview Central extension in 2019, claiming it would adversely affect nearby centres including Beenleigh.

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February council court documents said the proposed development would “have unacceptable adverse” impacts on other centres and would result in a centre greater than a local centre.

“It would have a scale and range of land uses as well as a role and function beyond that of a local centre,” the documents said.

“The expanded trade area associated with the proposed cinema gives the proposed development a main trade area in excess of potentially 100,000 people, which is more consistent with that expected of a Principal Centre.

The Holmview Central Shopping Centre from the air before the extension.

“The proposed development will adversely impact on designated centres identified in the centres hierarchy of the planning scheme.”

The refusal followed more than 380 submissions supporting the extension with major opposition from Dexus Wholesale Property Fund which owns Beenleigh Marketplace.

Lancini Group appealed the council refusal and this month, the council and the centre developer drew up a six-page list of issues that court-appointed experts will assess.

The court also allowed updated designs to improve internal roads and car access, which will mean shoppers will not have to get out of their cars to pick up their groceries.

The extension will also cater for the increased demand in food delivery services with 700 more carparks to be built outside individual stores.

Parking at the centre will be overhauled to make it safer and for easier access to the shops.

The extension will still include a second supermarket and a dining and entertainment precinct.

However, the star feature is the cinema complex, which is earmarked for land next door.

If the plans are approved by the court, it would be the only cinema complex servicing Holmview, Bahrs Scrub, Bethania, Windaroo and Beenleigh, with the closest multi-cinema complex 12km away at the Hyperdome.

Beenleigh is yet to build a cinema.

The extension will be 4km away from Beenleigh where there is a perception of drug and crime issues.

Logan City Council deputy mayor Jon Raven said he could not comment on the current court case but in February told a community meeting about drugs and crime in Beenleigh the council was not going to give up or declare Beenleigh a “dead duck”.

“It’s our job to keep trying to return Beenleigh to the great town it once was,” he said.

“Council has made an effort to protect Beenleigh – we’ve had developers such as Lawrence Lancini who want to develop precincts just up the road because they don’t want to go into Beenleigh.

“But if we let that growth happen outside the centre, it would destroy Beenleigh forever by creating a little new and shiny satellite up the road and all the businesses will go there.

“So under our planning scheme, Beenleigh is earmarked as a major business activity centre and council actively protects that status.”

In 2017, Cr Raven said there was no need for the project before 2021.

Lancini Property Group managing director Laurence Lancini.

Lancini Property Group managing director Laurence Lancini said the company believed the cinema project and the COVID-safe supermarket design had great community benefits.

“If anything, all the things we wanted to deliver prior to the pandemic – more services closer to home, more dining options, jobs for young people, opportunities for small business and investment – are needed here now more than ever,” he said.

“I want to assure customers and the community we are still passionate about this expansion project and still willing to invest in this community by undertaking it.

“It still needs to happen.”

Carparking at the centre will be reconfigured to allow for a clock-and-collect drive-through grocery store.

Logan Resident Action Group’s Diana Howes, who is also part of the court appeal, said the venture would not adversely affect Beenleigh, which is perceived to have a drug and crime problem.

“Jobs growth, investment and improved community amenity should be the focus of any forward thinking council, particularly in light of the economic pain so many people have suffered due to COVID-19,” Ms Howes said.

“Logan needs jobs — if 400 are being created 4km away from a location the council believes to be more appropriate, then it’s evident there’s more at play than serving community interest and providing community benefit.

“Dexus said a likely impact would be a 7 per cent drop in turnover at its Beenleigh Marketplace, but according to industry standards, an adverse effect is only measured after a 10 per cent decline in turnover.

“Most economies these days perceive competition as a good thing.”