MCU10/2083 Information Request Response 37 Gibson Rd Noosaville

                                                                                 Foresight
                                                                                     partners,!,




As both these existing stores provide only a limited range of goods, have no dedicated parking,
and charge a premium given their location (Gympie Terrace convenience shop), they are
neither easily accessible, convenient nor affordable to local residents.

Food and grocery items are also available at the Woolworths supermarket in Noosa Village.
Being the only supermarket in Noosaville, it is trading at an estimated 50% above the average.
Other supermarkets in the Noosa area including the Woolworths at Noosa Civic, Coles at
Noosa Fair and Woolworths at Poinciana Place are also estimated to be trading at between
10%-30% above the average. This highlights that while the local area has a substantial resident
and visitor population; it is underserved by convenience retail facilities.

With respect to food and beverage services, our reconnaissance of the retail network (pg.l0)
identified only few moderately priced food services in the local area with the existing shops
and food outlets on Gympie Terrace catering to destination dining and relatively high price
points. Furthermore, they were identified as not within a walkable distance for many trade area
residents and as having parking constraints.

The purpose of the subject proposal is to be a convenience based retail destination for time
poor locals, providing a wide selection of convenience retailers in the one location with
extended trading hours. Its location on Gibson Road, a major thoroughfare in Noosaville,
indicates that it will be well-located to serve as a convenience centre for the local community.
In light of its convenience function and role, it would be largely distinct to other retail centres
such as Noosa Village. It will also provide the single largest clustering of fast food outlets with
extended operating hours that are affordably priced.



Conclusions

Foresight Partners has reviewed the issues relevant to economic and planning need raised in
Council's information request. Our conclusions with respect to need presented in our October
2010 Economic and Impact Assessment remains unchanged:

    •   Low vacancy levels in the Noosaville area indicate that convenience retailers are unable
        to find a location for their business, which are effectively driven by a lack of
        appropriately zoned sites.

    •   While there are limited vacancies, the size, location and nature of these vacancies
        indicate that they are not suitable and could not accommodate the subject development.

    •   The two existing convenience stores in Noosaville are neither convenient nor easily
        accessible to local residents as they offer only a basic range of goods and have no
        dedicated parking.

    •   There are few food and beverage services in the local area that would be comparable to
        those proposed within the subject development, which in turn encourages travel further
        afield becoming less convenient to local residents.

    •   Existing supermarkets in the Noosa area are trading at above average levels,
        highlighting that the local area is underserved with respect to convenience retail
        facilities.

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