Flood of opposition

The existing Warwick Bunnings on Palmerin Street.

By Jeremy Sollars

COUNCIL officers have recommended the controversial new Bunnings proposal for Warwick be approved at this week’s Southern Downs Regional Council general meeting on Wednesday 26 October.
In a report to councillors attached to the October meeting agenda, the council’s planning and engineering staff stated they had determined the new Bunnings would pose “no significant effect” on flooding in the vicinity.
The Bunnings plan attracted nearly 70 objections from the public, including business owners and residents, mostly on the Condamine River floodplain adjacent to the proposed site at the corner of Canning and Condamine streets.
Objectors have levelled allegations at the council and Bunnings that extensive filling of the site required for the new building would increase the potential for damage to surrounding businesses and residents in the event of a major flood.
Many argued that the new building should be erected on pylons to allow for better and faster flows of floodwater but this was not considered as filling had already been approved in an earlier, separate plan for the site by a previous owner for a bulky goods retail outlet such as Bunnings or Masters.
The council officers have approved the development and filling on the basis that flooding would not be worsened in a “1 in 100 year” flood scenario, which is the base model used to assess floodplain building across Australia.
The most recent floods in Warwick well exceeded the 1 in 100 model, as did the 1976 flood which recorded the highest flood mark in Warwick’s history.
More than 60 proposed conditions on the development – if accepted by councillors – would include a requirement for Bunnings to seal Condamine Street and partially seal Canning Street along the frontages of the new store.
Councillors on Wednesday will have the option of voting in favour of the approval with the proposed conditions, adopting an alternative recommendation or refusing the application with reasons which would have legal strength if Bunnings took the council to court.
Updates to follow.