InvoCare pulls plans for Gympie Channon St funeral parlour

Plans to build a funeral parlour in a central spot critics have called ‘inappropriate’ – opposite a KFC and next to a nursing home – have taken an unexpected turn.

Development of the former Brodies site at the corner of Channon St and the Bruce Hwy in Gympie is full steam ahead, despite a proposal to put a funeral parlour there falling over.

A retail outlet or food business will join Supercheap Auto at the development locally referred to as the "Brodies site" on the corner of the Bruce Hwy and Channon St in Gympie.

The back half of the development has already been built and painted ready for Supercheap Auto, and though the building facing Channon St looks intriguing, council has only approved a single shop to go in the second construction.

Town Planning Alliance, which lodged plans on behalf of InvoCare for a funeral parlour in March 2021, told Gympie Regional Council in October it wanted to withdraw that application.

No reason was given for the decision.

Town Planning Alliance was contacted at the time for comment.

InvoCare had hoped to open a funeral parlour as part of a major redevelopment of the Channon St block which housed the (locally) famous Brodies fast food restaurant for many years.

The location of the proposed parlour, which was to open next to a nursing home and opposite KFC, was criticised as “inappropriate”.

The parlour was to replace the shop or shops originally approved for that site.

InvoCare’s plan was met with backlash from some corners of the community who felt the location, not only opposite a takeaway chain but also, next to a nursing home, was inappropriate.

Town Planning Alliance defended the choice, saying there was no clash under under Gympie’s planning scheme.

Traffic was flagged as another problem by critics but Transport and Main Roads said it would not create a traffic hazard if given the green light.

Despite these concerns, only two formal objections were lodged with the council about the parlour.

The Brodies building had been empty for five years.

Originally published as InvoCare pulls plans for Gympie Channon St funeral parlour