Revised Pallara shopping centre plans spark push to ‘get on with it’

More than 100 formal submissions have been lodged pleading with Council to approve this booming southwest Brisbane suburb’s first shopping centre. TAKE OUR POLL

More than 100 formal submissions have been lodged pleading with Council to approve Pallara’s first shopping centre after a developer lodged revised plans.

Bluepoint Pallara Pty Ltd first lodged plans almost two years ago for a two-level supermarket, gym, medical centre, vet, offices and fast food outlet at 201 Gooderham Rd.

Residents in Pallara, a former rural area which has become a boomtown in recent years, have complained about poor bus services, lack of shops and schools.

The only other planned centre in the suburb, to be built by Pallara Central Pty Ltd at 223 Ritchie Rd, is still before Council.

The only other shopping centres anywhere near Pallara are Forest Lake Shopping Centre, owned by the State Government’s investment arm Queensland Investment Corporation, Calamvale Marketplace and Westpoint Shopping Centre in the Logan suburb of Hillcrest.

Artist's impression of how the centre would look.

One of the very few submissions objecting to the Bluepoint proposal was lodged by the QIC, which argued the project conflicted with the Strategic Framework of Council’s Planning Scheme, was not appropriate for a Rural Zone or the Willawong Neighbourhood Plan Code. “The scale and intensity of the proposed uses are considered to exceed the demand for those anticipated for the site under the Planning Scheme and expectations of projected rapid population growth,’’ it said.

But residents have swamped community Facebook groups and lodged more than 100 formal submissions to Council saying a shopping centre was desperately needed.

“We are owner occupiers in the Pallara estate (formerly owned by Stocklands),’’ one submitter wrote.

“As the Pallara community is growing so rapidly, it is in great need of local retail, community and utility providers.

“Travel to the closest providers is a minimum 15 minutes drive, each way, to neighbouring facilities.

“Pallara lacks basic facilities including a post office, bank and ATMs, newsagency, doctor’s clinic, dentist, chemist, library, community centre and retail.’’

Prakash Rajpal wrote that residents were given a commitment there would be a shopping centre when they bought land in the suburb.

“We’ve got young kids and are a working couple. It takes a lot of our time to buy bread and milk from anywhere else,’’ he said.

Michael Ghattas, another Pallara resident, wrote that he and his wife did not need the extra stress of finding time to drive to the nearest shops.

Aerial view of the Pallara shopping centre proposed site.

“We travel far to work every day in busy traffic. It will be handy to have extra time to spend with the family,’’ he wrote.

The Bluepoint development would include a medical centre with 6am to 10pm opening hours and 24-hour gym, supermarket and vet clinic.

although the area was zoned rural the 20,000 sqm site bordered 28 houses.

Bluepoint submitted revised designs and expert reports late last month addressing Council concerns about loading bays, trolley collection points and rubbish bins near the houses.

The traffic report said concerns about a left-in slipway were not correct, with most cars to enter from Pallara Ave and exit via Gooderham Rd.

More details on council’s online DA portal developmenti. Search for 201 Gooderham Rd, Pallara or application A005772656

Originally published as Revised Pallara shopping centre plans spark push to ‘get on with it’