Innisfail service station and fast food precinct proposal for Bruce Hwy, Goondi approved

A multimillion dollar project for a fuel, fast food and industrial precinct will be built at the intersection of two major Far Northern highways. SEE THE PLAN

A MULTIMILLION dollar proposal to build a service precinct featuring a fuel station, food and drink outlets and industrial warehouses north of Innisfail, the first of its kind for the town, has been approved.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council on Thursday gave the green light to a material change of use application from LRC Growth Pty Ltd, to convert 4.7ha of rural land at Lot 1, Bruce Hwy, Goondi, into a service precinct.

The site, opposite the Fred Drew Rest Area, shares a border with the Palmerston Hwy and would be located in the vicinity of where a proposed Innisfail bypass would relink with the existing highway.

The council’s senior planner Byron Jones told Cassowary Coast councillors the development would progress in two stages, made up of five tenancies.

“Stage 1 provides for parking for large trucks and food and retailing elements,” he said.

“Tenancy one is proposed to be used for a service station with an ancillary shop component that is typically found in all service stations, while tenancy two is proposed to be utilised as a drive-through food and drink outlet.

“The service station and fast food development is proposed to be 24 hours in order to function effectively.”

The development will also feature 26 car parking spaces, four designated truck spaces and one bus parking spot.

“Stage 2 of the development will involve the expansion of the development into a service centre styled development through the construction of three large industrial or commercial styled buildings to be used for relevant activities,” Mr Jones said.

He said those buildings could be tenanted by hardware and trade supplies stores, low impact industry businesses, agricultural supplies stores or warehouses.

“The proposed development has been conditioned to provide limited hours of the operation of tenancies three, four and five to minimise any detrimental effect on the amenity of the surrounding dwelling houses within the area.”

Stage 2 of the development would also allow for an additional 62 car parking spaces to serve the three industrial buildings.

Mr Jones said the applicant had numerous negotiations with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to determine access to the proposed site, which planning documents showed would be from the Palmerston Hwy.

About 2.1ha of the 4.7ha site is set to be left vacant to accommodate the future planned Innisfail bypass.

The approval of the application was widely supported by nearby businesses.

Cassowary Coast Regional Council gave the green light for Lot 1, Bruce Hwy, Goondi to be used for service station, fast foodoutlet and low-impact industrial precinct on Thursday.

The plan also received backing from a number of businesses including Soils First NQ director John Bletsas who said “the moredevelopment the better.”

Neighbouring business Pizzo’s TTF admin officer Fiona Trembath said Innisfail needed new businesses.

“And with the bypass coming out there, that road (Palmerston Hwy) is the link to the Tablelands, it just makes sense to havesomething there,” she said.

“But I do feel for the town, with the bypass and this development, a lot of travellers will just go there.”

A number of other business owners in the Goondi industrial precinct told the Cairns Post they supported the development.

Originally published as Innisfail service station and fast food precinct proposal for Bruce Hwy, Goondi approved