UPDATED STORY:
COSTCO Wholesale Australia will be able to submit a development application to open a 15,800-square-metre warehouse at Caringbah.
In last week’s Leader it was reported that the proposal by Costco had been ruled by the council staff as not permissible under the B7 business park zoning in the draft Sutherland Shire local environmental plan 2013.
Costco was classified as a ‘‘shop’’ which is not allowed under the zoning.
But Sutherland Shire mayor Kent Johns said that in his mayoral minute on the draft Sutherland Shire local environmental plan 2013, he overruled the council officer’s report and included ‘‘shop’’ as a permissible use for 24-30 Cawarra Road, Taren Point.
Previous story:
A PLAN by Costco Wholesale Australia to open a 15,800 square-metre discount warehouse at Caringbah will not be allowed under the draft Sutherland Shire local environmental plan.
The proposal would have generated an estimated 330 jobs.
The council's refusal means Costco will have to look for an alternative site elsewhere in southern Sydney.
Costco wanted to open the bulk retail warehouse including a cafe, tyre centre, optometrist, photo-processing services, hearing-aid services and sales and parking for 705 cars.
The company had picked the 25,900- square-metre site at 32-40 Cawarra Road as one of the few available sites in southern Sydney that could meet its requirements. The site is proposed to be zoned B7: business park under the draft local environmental plan which does not permit shops or bulky goods. Because the Costco proposal is classified as a "shop," Costco asked the council to be permitted under the new zoning.
But a council report did not recommend changing the draft LEP, stating that the B7 zone had to be protected for future employment and to support greater employment-generating potential.
The aim of the B7 zone is to provide a range of office and light-industrial uses. Sutherland Shire currently provides more retail jobs than there are local retailing workers to fill them. New retail jobs are unlikely to come from within the shire.
Bulky goods generate an estimated 40 employees a hectare, while offices generate about 400 employees a hectare and high-tech industrial about 160 employees a hectare.
The council was also concerned about the level of traffic that could be generated under the Costco proposal.
Costco did not return the Leader's calls.
Are you happy the application is now going ahead?
