Attachment 7 - Economic Need and Impact Assessment · MCU13/0251

6        NEED ASSESSMENT
From an economic perspective, community wellbeing in terms of the provision of retail services
is enhanced through the provision of the broadest range of retail facilities within an area without
threatening the ongoing viability of any established retail facilities. Even in situations where a
new development may threaten the viability of existing facilities the community’s economic
wellbeing may (at times) be served best by allowing the proposed development if it better meets
the community’s need relative to the threatened existing centre or retailer.
The subject site is located opposite the existing Peregian Beach neighbourhood centre on land
which already has approval for commercial activities. A review of the Peregian Beach
neighbourhood centre indicates that there is no opportunity to accommodate facilities similar to
that proposed in the subject development within the existing centre. From an economic
perspective, the subject site represents an appropriate and logical location for expanding retail
facilities within Peregian Beach.
The proposed development responds to a gap in the existing provision of retail facilities within
Peregian Beach. Specifically, there is a clear gap in the provision of convenience retail facilities to
service the needs of local residents and visitors (particularly self-catering visitors).
Existing convenience retail provision within the Peregian Beach neighbourhood centre is limited
to a 290m2 Friendly Grocer food store, a green grocer and a bakery. Hence the trade area’s
population of some 4,500 persons must access convenience retail facilities outside the trade area.
The nearest supermarkets to the subject site include:
• Coles at Peregian Springs: 3.7 km;
• Coles at Coolum Beach Village:         5.6km; and
• Woolworths at Coolum Park Shopping Centre:              8.8km.
To access a choice in supermarkets trade area residents must travel a considerable distance. By
offering a locally based alternative to the two nearest supermarkets (both are Coles
supermarkets), trade area residents have the potential to experience travel time savings when
undertaking their grocery shopping.
The proposed development would offer additional choice in supermarket offers. Being a limited
line supermarket it is unlikely that the tenant would be a Coles or Woolworths, hence an entirely
new supermarket retailer would be brought into the eastern beaches area.
The existing local convenience retail market is dominated by the two Coles supermarkets. As
stated above the nearest non-Coles supermarket is the Woolworths at Coolum Park Shopping
Centre, some 8.8 kilometres from the subject site. The introduction of a limited line supermarket
to service the Peregian Beach community, a community of approximately 4,500 persons, would
increase competition in the local convenience retail market. Local level competition can come in
a number of forms including lower prices, increased range and choice and better service
standards.
The construction of the proposed centre would generate project based employment
opportunities within the construction sector. Once operational the proposed development will
create localised employment opportunities for 50-60 workers. Obviously, the proposed
development would result in a redirection of expenditure from other centres, particularly from
those outside the trade area; hence some of these employment opportunities are likely to be



Peregian Village Market Economic Need and Impact Assessment                                        26
December 2013 13034 Report Rev 0