Residents will fight on if Woolworths refuses to take “no” for an answer when Sutherland Shire Council rejects the retail giant’s bid for a new supermarket at Taren Point.
The council’s Planning Committee has unanimously rejected the rezoning application and its recommendation will be rubber stamped at the full council meeting on August 21 (see below).
Taren Point Action Group spokeswoman Sadie Mehan said a council report “says the same things that we have been saying”.
“The report acknowledges that the traffic would be increased, that it would not bring the right jobs or development to the area, and that the proposal fails the strategic merit test,” she said.
“I would like to think that Woolworths would see take the hint and withdraw the application, but residents know that this is likely the first step.”
Ms Mehan said Woolworths could still take the rezoning proposal directly to the Department of Environment and Planning.
“We know the process can continue, even after a council has voted against it, and while we are very happy with this result we are prepared to continue the fight,” she said.
“That’s because we know that this proposal doesn’t stack up, because of all the concerns we’ve raised, that are reflected in the committee’s report – about the importance of industrial land, and the traffic, safety, and disruption it would bring our area.”
Earlier story
Woolworths’ bid to open a new supermarket, cafe and liquor store in Parraweena Road, Taren Point, will be rejected by Sutherland Shire Council.
The council will also carry out a shire-wide review to determine if new supermarket sites are required and where they are best located.
Council’s Planning Committee unanimously recommended refusal of a proposed rezoning of industrial land in Taren Point for a Woolworths supermarket.
The decision will be rubber stamped at this month’s full council meeting.
Liberal and Labor councillors have expressed opposition to the plans, and Mayor Carmelo Pesce said he thought it would “struggle to win approval”.
The Planning Committee endorsed a report by council officers, which found the proposal was not consistent with the relevant strategic directions of the Draft South District Plan.
This plan required the council to take a precautionary approach if proposing to rezone or add additional uses to employment land.
“While a supermarket would create jobs, this would be at the cost of future employment in industrial uses with higher economic value,” the report said.
“Council, after the release of final District Plans later this year, is required to prepare a new LEP within three years.
“Part of this process will be a strategic review to confirm the need for retail floor space and identify how this can be best facilitated.
“The Planning Proposal fails the strategic merit test.
“As such, the rezoning of the site to facilitate a supermarket is not supported”.
It is the second major blow in a month to the supermarket giant’s plans to expand in the shire.
Sydney South Planning Panel refused an application for a new supermarket, liquor store and childcare centre in Flora Street, Kirrawee, next to South Village.
However, Woolworths will be the anchor tenant in the Woolooware Bay Town Centre shopping centre.
