MCU14/0106 Appendix J - Retail Needs Assessment

9            Travel, Time and Environmental Benefits

9.1         INTRODUCTION
As discussed earlier in this report, there is significant leakage of retail spending occurring across the
trade area, with facilities outside the Noosa Civic trade area currently capturing 37% of the main trade
area retail market.

The redevelopment of the Noosa Civic Shopping Centre will provide an increase in the range and number
of proximate retail opportunities for Noosa trade area residents, and indeed many residents outside the
trade area, particularly to the north and west.

At present, consumers typically travel to the central Sunshine Coast or Brisbane/Gold Coast for expanded
retail choice. For the majority of area residents, the ability to take advantage of an increased retail offering
at Noosa Civic will reduce the time and distance required to travel to make these retail purchases.

The reduction in leakage from the trade area will result in reduced distances travelled by car and time
spent on-road; this in turn would result in the following economic, social and environmental benefits.

Benefits to Individuals:

    time travel savings;

    fuel cost savings; and

    vehicle maintenance savings.

Reduced bus fares for those travelling by public transport to Noosa Civic instead of Sunshine Plaza are
not considered in this analysis due to lack of precise data, but could provide additional upside to the
benefits estimated.

Public Good Benefits:

    health benefits of reduced vehicle emissions;

    improvement in road safety;

    reduced wear and tear on roads; and

    environmental benefits of reduced vehicle emissions.


9.2         REDUCTION IN TRIPS TO ESCAPE EXPENDITURE REGIONS
In order to quantify the magnitude of the benefits outlined above, we first need to ascertain the current
number of trips that Noosa Civic trade area residents are making to the key escape expenditure
destinations each year. The key escape expenditure destinations include Maroochydore (where
Sunshine Plaza is located), Nambour (Nambour Plaza), Buddina (Kawana Shoppingworld), Caloundra
(Stockland Caloundra), the Brisbane CBD and Chermside (Westfield Chermside).

There is also significant escape spending to other sundry areas on the Sunshine Coast and in Brisbane
and the Gold Coast. We have aggregated these destinations into ‘Rest of Sunshine Coast’ and ‘Rest of
Brisbane/Gold Coast’.




URBIS
NOOSA CIVIC - RETAIL NEEDS ASSESSMENT DEC 2014 MASTER - FINAL               TRAVEL, TIME AND ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS   125