Noosa residents fight ‘nightmare’ Woolworths development at Cooroy

A group of Sunshine Coast residents have slammed a proposed new Woolworths in the Noosa Hinterland, saying it would pose a “major threat” to the viability of existing local businesses.

Proposed supermarket design and layout from the Economic Impact Assessment Report submitted to Noosa Council.

A group of Noosa residents have slammed the idea of a new Woolworths in Cooroy, saying it would pose a “major threat” to the viability of existing local businesses.

The supermarket proposed in the application submitted to Noosa Council would be the largest in the Shire if approved.

The Noosa Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association argued opening such a large shopping centre on the outskirts of Cooroy would drag customers out of the town’s central retail precinct.

Hinterland resident and NSRRA vice president Aaron White said the Woolworths opening would drag customers out of the Cooroy's central retail precinct and hurt local businesses.

Hinterland resident and NSRRA vice president Aaron White said the Woolworths opening would be “to the detriment of every business in Cooroy”.

“You only need to look at what happened to Noosa Junction after the Civic was approved to see the outcome of splitting your customer base,” Mr White said.

“There’s been empty shops in The Junction ever since.”

The NSRRA is also concerned a new retail precinct would put further pressure on the accident-prone Myall St and Elm St intersection.

“The intersection can’t cope with existing traffic flows so extra congestion from a new shopping centre will be an absolute nightmare” Mr White said.

Additionally, the 6.7-hectare site is on land zoned for Community Facilities and Environmental and Management Conservation, and the Noosa Plan 2020 designated it for aged care use.

Mr White said a shopping centre should not be built on land meant for community facilities.

“While it may suit the commercial interest of developers to exploit land zoned ‘Community Facilities’ for large-scale retail purposes, as a responsible corporate citizen it would be more appropriate for Woolworths to establish a presence in the existing retail zone,” he said.

Local Context Map from the Economic Impact Assessment Report submitted to Noosa Council.

Woolworths, however, has proposed a mixed-use approach to help meet requirements for the land’s zoning.

In this plan, 2.2 hectares of the land would be used for the shopping centre, 2.2 hectares would accommodate an aged care development, and the remainder would be set aside for environmental management and conservation.

The Economic Impact Assessment Report submitted in the application to the Council said the development of new retail facilities would “not inhibit the delivery of aged care facilities consistent with the planning scheme’s intentions”.

It also stated the new Woolworths would provide a “substantial improvement” in the range of retail facilities available to residents within a convenient and accessible distance.

“The closest full-line supermarkets are beyond the catchment area, more than 15km from the subject site and would result in at least a 30-35 minute round trip for residents in proximity to the subject site,” the report said.

“The addition of the proposed development would also result … in travel and time savings.”

Woolworths Cooroy Catchment Area & Suburbs Map from the Economic Impact Assessment Report submitted to Noosa Council.

Despite Woolworths’ multi-use approach, the NSRRA “does not believe the applicant has proven a community need exists that would overcome the applications numerous conflicts with the Noosa Plan”.

“Such development directly conflicts with the intent and strategic outcomes of the planning scheme,” Mr White said.

“This is designed to preserve the character and village atmosphere of Cooroy’s existing centre of commerce.”

Originally published as Noosa residents fight ‘nightmare’ Woolworths development at Cooroy