Noosa Council committee debates Noosaville Bunnings proposal

The future of an extension to the Noosa Bunnings is up in the air because of Council’s preference for “muted tones”.

The plans for a hardware and trade supplies store on Eumundi Noosa Rd in Noosaville.

A major Noosa hardware store is hoping to extend its warehouse to cater for tradies.

Noosa Council staff has recommended giving the green light to the Bunnings development despite it busting shire height restrictions and a councillor questioning the colour scheme.

Bunnings wants to add a hardware and trade supplies store to its existing warehouse on Eumundi Noosa Rd in Noosaville.

Council documents showed the 1087sq m two-level building would have parking on the lower level and a trade area on the upper level.

“The applicant intends to provide timber and trade supplies primarily to professional builders and trades customers and is expected to operate independently of the existing Bunnings Warehouse with no changes proposed to this store,” the documents stated.

Bunnings wants to add a hardware and trade supplies store to its existing warehouse on Eumundi Noosa Rd in Noosaville.

Noosa Council staff recommended approving the development, with conditions.

It was discussed at the latest council planning and environment committee meeting on October 10.

Noosa Councillor Brian Stockwell.

Planning acting co-ordinator Nadine Gorton said the trades supplies store had different branding, a different colour scheme and provided access for people with trailers.

Plans showed the trades centre was proposed to have a white and green colour scheme, which was the same as the existing Bunnings store.

Ms Gorton said the applicant proposed a building of 12m, which was more than the 10m height limit of the planning scheme.

She said the site of the development proposal was lower and Bunnings had stated it needed the height for its stock.

A Bunnings spokeswoman said the business was pleased the council was meeting to consider the development application. NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

Noosa Councillor Brian Stockwell asked why the council staff was recommending approval for the building with certain characteristics.

“I wonder why we’re going down a path of approving an aesthetic that is over-height and is inconsistent in terms of colours to allow a business to once again do what the signing policy and signing law tried to avoid,” he asked.

Ms Gorton said the signage was not proposed by the applicant on this building but the colour scheme was proposed and the council could place conditions around the scheme.

“Commercial enterprises all want their commercial colours spread over their buildings,” Mr Stockwell said.

“In Noosa we don’t, we want what our scheme says which is muted tones.”

The development will be considered by the council on October 23.

A Bunnings spokeswoman said the business was pleased the council would meet to consider the development application.

“If approved, the new trade centre would provide a wider range of timber and trade products for our customers and improve our overall offer to the local community,” she said.

Originally published as Noosa Council committee debates Noosaville Bunnings proposal