Bryant Drive Tuggerah: Decision made on new $29.8M shopping centre

The Local Planning Panel has ruled on a $29.8 million proposal to turn vacant land and a car park opposite Tuggerah Super Centre into a major shopping and restaurant precinct. Read the details.

A development application (DA) to turn the overflow car park and vacant land opposite Tuggerah Super Centre into a sprawling specialty retail centre with fast food and drive through restaurants has been approved.

The Local Planning Panel voted unanimously to approve the DA last month after it was deferred when it first came before the panel in June.

The DA was renotified to surrounding properties after local landholders said it was the first they had heard of the plans and raised concerns about stormwater run off.

The DA is for the site (in blue) across the road from the Tuggerah Super Centre. Picture: supplied

The traffic report also acknowledged issues with the nearby roundabout at the intersection of Bryant Drive and Wyong Rd, which was identified as already “at the end of its useful life” and would struggle with the extra 250 peak hour vehicle movements a day.

“While the increased traffic generated by the proposal will have some impact on the efficiency of the existing Wyong Road/ Bryant Drive roundabout during peak periods, the intersection has already reached capacity due to 25 years of background traffic growth,” the report states.

“The TIA (traffic impact assessment) acknowledges that this development will contribute to the deterioration of the operation of the roundabout, however given that the cost estimate for the development is $29M and the cost to upgrade the intersection to traffic signals will be in excess of $30M, it would be unreasonable to expect this development to fully fund the work.

“Having regard for the existing traffic situation and the traffic outcomes resulting from the proposed development, the proposal is considered acceptable.”

The development will cause traffic problems for the roundabout at Wyong Rd/Bryant Drive but the intersection is so old it is deemed not to have a material impact. Picture: Google

Aventus Tuggerah Pty Ltd, the company which owns Tuggerah Super Centre, lodged the proposal in 2019 after it purchased the 5.6ha block from Bunnings Properties for $3.75 million in 2016.

The DA includes three large retail buildings spanning an area of 10,674sq m, two “food pads” spanning an area nearly 700sq m complete with alfresco dining, drive through and takeaway restaurants and 389 parking spaces.

Under the plans the developer would build a roundabout and an new entry opposite the driveway to Tuggerah Super Centre on Bryant Drive and a boom-gated northern driveway on Lake Rd, which would cater for staff parking and deliveries.

The site includes the overflow car park and the Return & Earn container deposit facility, which would be relocated. Picture: supplied

The existing Return and Earn container deposit facility would be relocated on the site, which would be landscaped and include “public art elements”, according to the DA.

The Local Planning Panel stated Aventus had resubmitted stormwater plans, which were found to be acceptable and would not run through adjoining properties or flood Bryant Drive.