By Sonia Isaacs and Mitch Gaynor
The Beerwah Co-Op and service station is facing eviction from its long-term Simpson Street site by mid-2027, with the property expected to be replaced by a four-storey, 400-space car park and retail precinct as part of the Wave rail upgrade, a public meeting has heard.
The future of the 90-year-old business was outlined at a community meeting on Tuesday, November 25, where the Co-Op board revealed the State Government had indicated the lease was unlikely to be renewed.
Under current plans, the Co-Op and adjoining service station would be demolished to make way for a commuter car park linked to the upgraded Beerwah train station. The project forms part of the $5.5 billion Wave rail line that will connect Beerwah to Caloundra by 2032.
Board representatives said no formal eviction notice had been issued, but ongoing talks with Transport and Main Roads and Queensland Rail suggest the organisation needs to consider alternative premises.
The board said it was actively pursuing new sites and remained optimistic a new lease could be found, however it was unlikely to include a service station – at least in the same location.
Co-Op board spokesperson James Stretch (picture speaking) told the meeting: “We’re reaching out to all levels of government, exploring every avenue, and keeping an open line to our community, but the current signs indicate we’ll need to move.”
The possibility of losing the Co-Op, which provides the town’s only independent fuel outlet, generated strong concern among residents. Community members questioned future fuel access, the potential for increased congestion and whether the Co-Op and service station could be relocated together. One resident said the loss of a second fuel provider would leave locals dependent on a single retailer, resulting in higher petrol prices.
Several attendees criticised the decision to place the car park on the western side, arguing that viable alternative sites had not been properly explored. Some suggested nearby open land or parkland could provide a solution that avoided displacing long-standing businesses. Residents also warned that concentrating rail-related traffic on one side of town would create gridlock and pose safety risks for pedestrians and motorists.
A change.org petition, Save Beerwah Co-Op, was launched after the meeting and has gained more than 550 signatures.
The petition argues the proposed car park is not worth the loss of more than 50 jobs or the disruption caused by removing a major business established in 1936.
It states the Co-Op serves 30,000 customers each month and is a significant employer and supporter of local clubs, schools and sporting groups.
Petition organisers say the community has been overwhelmed by the scale of the proposal and are calling for assurances that all options have been explored and that the long-term impact on Beerwah has been fully considered.
