Bunnings to demolish flood-hit southwest warehouse, rebuild

Bunnings is set to demolish one of its flood-prone Brisbane sites, with the promise that the replacement will be capable of reopening only 24 hours after a deluge. HERE’S WHEN IT WILL REOPEN

Bunnings will demolish its flood-plagued Oxley warehouse, which has been shut since the February deluge, and replace it with a raised building it says can be reopened one day after waters recede.

It hoped the new-look warehouse would reopen in 2024.

The existing store has experienced at least three major flood events since it was built, but Bunnings was confident the new version would resist damage.

It would also be much bigger and higher, with two levels of shop space and carparking underneath.

It would be based on a design similar to its warehouse in Bundamba (Ipswich) which successfully resisted damage in the February flood, reopening 24 hours after floodwaters receded, and warehouses in Virginia and Acacia Ridge.

Flood doors would protect the main and nursery entrances and essential services would be raised, the hardware giant said in a development application (DA) lodged with Council earlier this week.

February flooding closed the Bunnings Oxley warehouse.

Bunnings said it would spend $60 million on the new store, which would create about 50 new jobs, bringing the total to about 250.

The internal layout would be similar to the existing warehouse, including the main retail area, outdoor nursery and timber trade drive-through.

But there would be a much wider range of home and lifestyle products.

Bunnings Regional Operations Manager, Jason Doyle, said he was hopeful the store would be open again to local customers in 2024, pending Council approval.

“We have been working closely with the relevant authorities while preparing our application and we’re hopeful of getting a timely approval so we can get on with construction and get back to serving the community, giving them access to the products they need,” Mr Doyle said.

Town planners Property Projects Australia said in the DA documents that reopening a flooded warehouse could take up to four months.

“In addition to the impact on flood recovery, approximately 195 team members have been displaced (from at the Oxley store), having to be temporarily relocated to surrounding stores to ensure no significant job loss from the temporary closure,’’ they stated.

“Bunnings Group Limited is seeking to replace the existing store to establish a flood-resilient Bunnings Warehouse to ensure the continuity of service and trade through major flood events and to maximise the utility of the land.

Entrance to Oxley Bunnings in.

“This proposal is founded upon the principles that have been adopted at the (flood resilient) Bunnings Warehouse Bundamba store.’’

A designated flood warden would have to be on duty at all times during opening hours, Council and the State Assessment and Referral Agency told Bunnings in “pre-lodgement’’ meetings.

Council officers pointed out during the meetings that both access points, on Blunder and Factory roads, had flooded in January, 2011 and in February this year.

“To facilitate vehicular evacuation, it would be beneficial to provide a 3.5m wide flood emergency egress point (fitted with removable bollards or boom gate) at the higher part of Blunder Rd,’’ they wrote in the DA documents.

Bunnings Oxley in January, 2011.

Bunnings said the flood doors would mean only the car park would go under, as the suspended retail floors would be above the one-in-200-year flood level.

In June, Bunnings reopened its flood-hit Rocklea store after major repairs, adding new features including a revamped cafe and kitchen design centre.

It had to seek specialist advice to ensure the warehouse was structurally and hygienically safe to reopen.

The new-look Oxley warehouse would be much bigger, going from the existing 14,350 sqm gross floor area to 19,344 sqm.

Bunnings offered to gift land to widen Blunder Rd and its verge, to improve that exit.

There would be an increase in parking spaces, but it submitted a traffic report on the impact of the extra car movements.

Council officers also raised concerns about visual screening of the taller building, which would be up to 15.5m high.

Only 6.2 per cent of the site would be devoted to deep planting (large trees with roots in the ground), less than the required 10 per cent.

Officers said the “undercroft’’ parking area needed to be screened from the road by landscaping.

The warehouse, which has flooded multiple times since it was built, was deemed a high risk stormwater area, but Bunnings said it should not have to submit a hazardous chemicals flood plan as all stock would be on the new, raised levels.

“Council raises no concern with the proposed uses in this location and the proposed redevelopment of the site to ensure the Bunnings is flood resilient providing the issues relating

to the visual impacts to the street frontage, can be addressed through landscape screening/buffering,’’ Property Projects Australia said.

“It is considered there is merit for a ‘performance outcome’ (exemption) regarding height as the raised structure is only slightly exceeding the preferred maximum to address the flood constraints affecting the site.’’

The two existing access points would be retained, but the safety of a proposed new access to the Ipswich Rd Service Lane would need to be considered, Council officers said.

Details on Council’s online DA portal developmenti. Search for 32 Blunder Rd or application A006009938