Big box update
Frenchs Forest store gets the greenlight
Over 200 people have signed a petition calling for the proposed Bunnings Warehouse at the former RAAF base in Dubbo to be stopped
Thu Feb 25 2021
A five-storey Bunnings Warehouse is planned for Sydney's northern beach suburbs and a petition has called for a stop to the Bunnings development in Dubbo (NSW).
Frenchs Forest
Bunnings has gained approval from NSW planning authorities for a store to be built at the corner of Warringah Road and Allambie Road in Frenchs Forest.
The $48million store will offer customers three levels of shopping and include a large outdoor garden centre, kid's playground and hardware and building supplies. The 20,000sqm development will also have two levels of parking to accommodate 400 vehicles.
An Australia Post distribution centre and a two-storey office block will be knocked down to build the store.
Bunnings regional operations manager, Alan Harvey told The Daily Telegraph the company was pleased to receive approval for the new multi-level Bunnings Warehouse.
While it is too early to confirm an opening date, we look forward to providing a wide range of home and lifestyle products to the Frenchs Forest community.
Northern Beaches Council was initially worried about safe vehicle access to the store because of its close proximity to the busy Warringah and Allabie Road intersection. Its concerns related to "potential road safety issues with merging vehicles and conflicts with pedestrians". The main driveway will be moved to Rodborough Road once traffic lights are installed at the Allambie Road intersection to combat safety concerns.
The exterior of the warehouse will also change as a result of council complaints regarding the size of the Bunning's logo and colour scheme. Bunnings will limit the amount of green paint used on facades, have fewer hammer logos visible and reduce the size of the logo by 33% on Rodborough Road.
Dubbo
A petition to stop the construction of the proposed Bunnings store in Dubbo has been launched by locals. According to the Daily Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, it cited an increase in cars to the area, as well as trucks, and states:
...[T]he proposed development will create safety issues for residents, businesses (including child care) and schools in the immediate vicinity.
This huge increase in traffic threatens the safety of pedestrians, including children, and other local road users. The associated noise will destroy the amenity of the area for local residents.
However, Bunnings regional operations manager Robyn Hudson said access to and from the site has been designed by the developer's expert consultants and was "carefully considered to ensure a safe and accessible store".
Concerns have also been raised about the Bunnings Warehouse building being "totally out of character" for the area because it will be "on the front doorstep of many residents". The petition states:
The project delivers no benefit to the community as Bunnings is currently appropriately located on Sheraton Road in an industrial/commercial area, with room to expand if they need to.
Ms Hudson said:
Bunnings has been part of the local Dubbo community since 2008 and we're looking to move to a larger location that's expected to create over 40 new jobs for locals, in addition to our existing Dubbo team.
If approved, the new store would represent a significant direct investment in the local community and would provide residents with an even wider range of home and lifestyle products...
We value to views of the local community and we'll work with the developer and council to listen to and address community feedback as the application progresses.
The development application for the $30 million store is currently before Dubbo Regional Council.
Related: Building plans lodged for a larger Bunnings store in Dubbo (NSW).
A bigger Bunnings Dubbo store is being proposed - HNN Flash #30, January 2021