Coles court battle gets interesting

IT seems Sunshine Coast Council is not the only opponent that Coles will be fighting in court.

Coles recently lodged three separate Planning and Environment Court appeals against the council’s refusal for the development applications at the corner of Roys Road and Steve Irwin Way in Beerwah.

A number of parties have so far indicated they will join the dispute, lodging their intentions with the court to enter the appeal court case.

Village Fair Investments, which owns the Beerwah Village and Beerwah Marketplace shopping complexes, has nominated to be a correspondent supporting the council’s refusal of the Coles supermarket and the petrol station/McDonald’s applications.

This action means Village Fair Investments will have the opportunity to put forward arguments for the court to uphold council’s refusal of the development proposals.

However, in what may be a massive blow to Coles, state government big-guns have decided to step in and add their weight.

The Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning has flagged its intention to present arguments in the appeal case.

As the government department that deals with planning and development, this turn of events could be the clincher in the case, depending on whether it will present a case for or against the development.

The exact details of their position will not be made known until the department lodges an outline of its submission.

Many others who made submissions against the original Coles development application are eligible to join the legal battle but have not elected to do so.

However, they would most likely applaud and support the efforts of the council and Village Fair Investments.

Businesses that made submissions include businesses such as Radsby Services (the parent company of Banjo’s bakery), Aldi, Fresh & Save, PCR Development Pty Ltd, Neddy’s Nosebag, I Luv Nails, Bargain Max, Mrs Browns Espresso and Bar, The Healthy Guru, Plus Fitness 24/7, Beerwah Newsagency, Beerwah Pharmacy, Beerwah Medical Centre Pharmacy, Coochin Creek Fruitgrowers Cooperative, Hinterland Body and Soul, Glasshouse Pizzeria, Glasshouse Post Office and Beerwah commercial building owners Lindsay and Polly Powell and Joan and Wally Tucker.

GC&M News will bring you more details on the appeal as they come to hand.

Advertisement