The development application for the proposed Masters Home Improvement store in Bundaberg has been called in by the Queensland Government.
Approved by the Bundaberg Regional Council in January early this year, the proposed $30 million development was called in following three appeals lodged in the Planning and Environment Court against the decision.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said that the Bundaberg Regional Council had subsequently requested the State Government to consider calling the significant potential project in following the appeals.
Mr Seeney then invited the affected parties to have their say on the project through written representations from 16 April 2014 to 12 May 2014. After considering all submissions, he decided to call in the development application. This means the State Government now undertakes the role of assessing this project.
Mr Seeney said it was important that the proposed development in Walker Street balanced community expectations with the need to rebuild the region’s economy following the devastating floods that hit the area in 2013. The proposed development has the potential to create 186 jobs during construction and 130-150 ongoing operational jobs. It also has the potential to spur on other business investment in the Kalkie/Ashfield growth corridor, areas identified in the council’s draft planning scheme and the Wide Bay Burnett Regional Plan 2009.
Mr Seeney said he will now undertake an assessment of the application against the relevant planning instruments and make a final determination about the proposed development.
The affected parties will receive notice of the final decision, which is expected to be made later this year.
