IMBIL SUPERMARKET DEBATE

IT’S A TALE OF TWO SUPERMARKETS, LOYALTY VERSUS PRACTICALITY, FUTURE VERSUS PAST

Debate about the locations and look of a new supermarket to best serve Imbil has divided members of the community.

Work has started on a new supermarket on a creekside block on Yabba Road opposite the existing general store, the Friendly Grocer, while the Friendly Grocer’s owners seek permission to demolish their old building and replace it with a new supermarket.

The second proposal has upset local history lovers who argue that the 100-year-old Friendly Grocer building is an important piece of Imbil’s heritage and should be preserved.

The store is included in Gympie council’s local heritage register of significant places although the register provides very little detail about the building or its history, other than that it was built by W. H. Moynehan in 1923 and was Moynehan’s second shop in town.

It describes the shop as representative of a time of prosperity and growth for Imbil, where a timber plantation and industry was starting to develop.

Not only would the general store be demolished during the redevelopment of the Friendly Grocer site, but an adjacent building referred to as the bank house, which was Imbil’s first bank and banker’s residence, would be removed and relocated to make way for the new supermarket.

Unlike the general store, the bank house is not listed on the local heritage register although photographs show it dates back to at least 1915 and it is believed to be the oldest surviving commercial building in town.

Opponents of the Friendly Grocer supermarket redevelopment argue that construction of a new supermarket on the site would alter Imbil’s heritage streetscape, particularly the view over the historic rail line.

There are also concerns about the impact that delivery trucks and a new carpark behind the supermarket would have on residents of Elizabeth Street.

Others say the town must move ahead, the Friendly Grocer’s owners have every right to try and expand their business, and deserve local support.

The application by Devinlea Pty Ltd to redevelop the Friendly Grocer’s site is yet to be decided by Gympie council.

The application documents claim that the historic building is not compliant with modern disability access standards and it would be unreasonably financially onerous to bring it up to scratch.

It also references an engineer’s report that notes that the current building has “structural issues” such as a lack of tie downs, bracing, undersized flooring, and areas of dry rot which it says would not be feasible to correct.

Gympie council has requested an extensive amount of further information, including a heritage report properly assessing whether or not the existing building can be retained or incorporated within a new development.

Lee Sullivan, of the Imbil Family Grocer wrote in response to written questions that Imbil needed a mediumsized IGA store.

“It is quite plain to see the current Friendly Grocer is no longer adequate to support the town, it definitely needs to expand.

“The old grocery shop building does not meet any current building codes which would need to be met for expansion.

“The heritage listing on the shop building is for it to continue as a commercial shop, expansion of the business is the only option.

“We have had overwhelming support from the locals for our plans, many of who know we always planned to expand the shop.”

The application by the Friendly Grocer’s owners to redevelop the site was not submitted until Kingshill Pty Ltd received council approval to build a supermarket opposite.

The council had previously approved a small shopping centre development on that site but Kingshill company spokesman Allan Rainbow said that after being approached by a business owner interested in operating a supermarket, the family business sought and received amended approval to instead build a supermarket with about 40 carparks.

Allan said the supermarket would be at the rear of the site and a smaller building would be built at the front, suitable for one or two shops, and of weatherboard and custom-orb exterior in sympathy with the town’s heritage streetscape.

Lee denied the application to redevelop the current Friendly Grocer site was in response to the new supermarket approval