The door has been shut on a $17 million investment and 70 local jobs for the shire after the NSW Planning and Environment Department refused the rezoning of two blocks of land at Tura Beach for a Bunnings store.
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Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, and Bega MP, Andrew Constance said he will meet with Bunnings after the company’s application to have land at Tura Beach rezoned, was refused.
Andrew Marks, Bunnings general manager, property said the company was disappointed with the state government’s decision.
“The proposed new Bunnings Warehouse Merimbula would represent an investment of over $17 million and provide employment for over 70 local residents, as well as approximately 140 jobs during the construction phase,” Mr Marks said.
“Bunnings appreciates the support of the Bega Valley Shire Council and will now evaluate its options to bring jobs and investment to the Tura Beach community.”
Mr Constance is also disappointed at the outcome but believes the matter shouldn’t be written off yet.
“We need the job opportunities that come with Bunnings setting up in our community. There has to be a compromise so everyone wins. Planning has been sensitive to residents adjoining the land but ultimately there has to be a way through this,” Mr Constance said.
Council has twice endorsed rezoning the land to allow Bunnings to further explore its options and draft a development application, but voting was always close and the council staff recommendation, in the past, has been against rezoning to B5, business development.
In rejecting the rezoning Planning said there was a need to protect the character of Tura Beach, rezoning was incompatible with the existing neighbourhood business precinct, there was a potential conflict with the adjoining seniors living development and Bega was the major regional centre.
Tura Beach resident, Chris Kunz has been a vocal supporter of the Bunnings development and said he believed there is an obligation on council to ensure that the regional strategy reflected the real situation.
“Tura no longer fits the village marker with small shops just supplying people in the vicinity. The Tura Woolworths has the biggest turnover of any Woolworths in the shire,” Mr Kunz said.
Council said there were already a number of suitably zoned sites in the shire that would support a development of this nature, and that it was keen to work with the proponents and advance the idea for the benefit of the community.