Noosa Civic Stage 3 objection

Carin Murphy
                                                                      242 Doonan Bridge Rd Verrierdale 4562
[email protected]
 30 July 2015

To the Assessment Manager, Planning and Development,
Noosa Shire Council
re: Proposed Development re. Expansion of Noosa Civic - MCU14 / 0106
28 Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville, 4566.
Major shopping centre expansion - QIC Noosa Civic Pty Ltd - Cardno HRP

Dear Sir/Madam

I would like to start by saying that I really enjoy shopping at the current Civic because it is so centrally located for people in Noosa and the surrounding hinterland and provides many services that were much further away before. Another thing I like is that it isn’t too big. We want things to be different in Noosa – not just the same old, same old as everywhere else. Look at the success of Eumundi Market just because you can purchase unique items there. This is the area we should be heading in – encouraging small businesses with low rent who provide unique products.

Therefore I wish to strongly oppose the proposed expansion of Noosa Civic Shopping Centre. We don’t need any more of the big players. Businesses in the Noosa area are struggling already. This is obvious by the many vacant shops in all the centres. Civic itself it struggling and doesn’t need more competition.

I think it’s crazy to try to make all the centres the major one. I shop locally most of the time but enjoy a trip to Myers at the Plaza now and then and think it’s good to be involved in other parts of the Sunshine Coast too.   I find it disappointing already that so many of the shops here are the same as the ones there. We don’t need more replicas. As Noosa Cinema is empty half the time too, we definitely don’t need another cinema. Or another supermarket!

As a former business owner I know how hard businesses in this area struggle with the enormous rents. Many work very hard and lose a lot of money, if not everything. Council should be monitoring this rather than adding to the hardship by allowing ever continuing expansion where it is not needed.

Businesses in Noosa Junction especially would suffer. I think it would be far better to keep building up this area rather than develop another as it is the far more central to Noosa itself and so many have invested so much there already.

It is obvious that no more retail space is needed in Noosa. Most local retailers are already struggling to make ends meet and they at least employ local people and use local suppliers. The big franchises usually have their own suppliers so would affect even the suppliers in this area.

I urge Council to reject the proposed expansion of Noosa Civic shopping Centre.

Sincerely
Carin Murphy
Ph 54491782