November 18, 2025
Will a Coles supermarket be built on the vacant council land in Pound Street, Kingaroy?
A Development Application for the block appears not to have been considered as yet, but Coles Group Property Developments Ltd recently wrote to the South Burnett Regional Council requesting that a Material Change of Use for the former Council depot land be assessed under a superseded planning scheme.
Coles Group Property Developments – the real estate arm of Coles Group – applied to have the establishment of a shopping centre on the site be assessed under the planning scheme which was in effect from January 4, 2021, to October 27, 2024.
Council granted this request on November 14.
Coles now has has six months to lodge a Development Application for the Material Change Of Use for the shopping centre proposal.
The project is “code assessable” which means it does not have to go before a Council meeting to be approved.
“Please note that Council’s agreement to assess your development application under the superseded Planning Scheme does not imply approval of the application,” the Decision Notice on the Superseded Planning Request stated.
“The application will be assessed on its merits under the relevant codes of the superseded Planning Scheme.”
southburnett.com.au understands that the shopping centre proposal is consistent with the sub-division plan discussed at a Council meeting in February for a possible future housing development on a portion of the block.
The site of the former Kingaroy Shire Council depot has been vacant for decades after the Council’s new depot opened in Ivins Street, Kingaroy, in March 2005.
Over the years, the Kingaroy Council – and then the amalgamated South Burnett Regional Council – tested market interest for the Pound Street block on several occasions.
Extensive rehabilitation, which included the removal of tonnes of soil, was completed in 2013 which allowed the block to be removed from the State Government’s Contaminated Land Register.
Related articles:
- Pound Street Solutions Draws Close
- Pound St Vote Next Week
- Special Meeting To Debate Pound St
- Council Debates $1.3m RSL Project
- Prime Site Sparks Developer Interest
- Council Tests Market For Pound Street
- Pound Street Going On The Market
- Pound St Gets ‘All Clear’
- Potential At Pound Street
- Pound St Decontamination Almost Over
Coles all the way please
We have mixed feelings about this proposed development. While some residents may welcome more choice and competition between the big chains, we’re concerned about what this could mean for Kingaroy’s retail future.
The town already has ALDI, Woolworths, and a large IGA. The loss of independent fruit shops and specialty food retailers suggests the market is already dominated by major players.
A Coles Group shopping centre proposal as a potential fourth major supermarket raises several issues:
Impact on independent retailers: Remaining independent businesses (including IGA) operate on very tight margins. They can’t absorb losses like multinational chains can. A large new supermarket could push these businesses out entirely.
Loss of retail diversity: Who will open a specialty butcher, baker, or greengrocer if they have to compete with four corporate giants? Once the independents are gone, it’s unlikely they’ll return, leaving Kingaroy with a more homogeneous retail landscape.
Limited community input: This development is being assessed under a superseded planning scheme as “code assessable,” which may mean no public hearing or council meeting. For a project of this size, shouldn’t the community have a stronger voice?
Questionable need: The town already has three major supermarkets. What unmet need does a fourth chain solve? Is it truly addressing a problem, or just adding another corporate outlet?
Cheaper prices may sound appealing, but the cost to our community could be permanent. Every dollar spent at these chains largely leaves Kingaroy and goes to corporate headquarters elsewhere. We believe it’s worth considering whether this is the retail landscape the town wants to see in the future.
As ex-dairy farmers, after all the grief caused to our industry by the two major supermarkets, we don’t care what they do, but they will be be doing it without our support.
Excellent! There are a lot of people wanting a Coles, it’s about time Kingaroy caught up with the times and the variety will be great not to mention more job opportunities get some of these bums off Centrelink !
Coles? Yes please! Can we get a much needed Kmart, too?!
Bring Coles supermarket here in Kingaroy. People here would rather that. Coles bring it on. Please, please. Coles AAAAA
Coles, yay, OMG. I can’t wait, very much needed.
Exciting to have Coles and can we have Kmart as well please?
Seeing a lot of comments both here and on other media, and the way all and sundry are screaming out for more and more large shopping places it seems as if the genuine, locally owned family-type shops and businesses are doomed.
Profits don’t stay local. Maybe jobs. But there is just so much money in an area and that does make one wonder??
This is a game changer for us. We will stay in Kingaroy if they build a Coles and Kmart. Fingers crossed the two will come together. We have been thinking of moving because the town is just going backwards. Let us all move forward.
As for the small businesses, most have already gone. They were killed with COVID.
Having Coles here will keep the other bas***ds honest. I for one, am tired of paying huge prices for second quality products. Even the smaller fruit stalls have stale fruit and veg.
Totally agree with South Burnett Advocate.
We are tired of partially empty shelves, products not being stocked, having to buy in Brisbane what we need.
The major players here are holding the people to ransom. Prices are too high, products are not always available … complain and it gets you nowhere. Platitudes and treating customers as if they are the problem is a cop out.
Competition should show the current retailers, once we all vote with our feet, that we are not stupid and force them to price and stock as they should.
K Mart, too, would be fantastic, unless you want the entire area all dressed from a few shops as we have lost the main clothing stores. Those that remain while selling great clothing are also holding us to ransom, charging exorbitant prices!
Brisbane charges much, much less. Time to treat your customers as valuable. Without us you have nothing …