Bunnings lodges new Development Application for Narrabri store

A new Development Application for a multi-million dollar retail hardware, building supplies and garden centre store at Narrabri has been lodged by national chain Bunnings.

The DA is available for public inspection and comment on the council website and when submissions from the community are received, up until September 18, will ultimately be considered by the council.

A DA for a Bunnings store was lodged in 2018, but subsequently withdrawn after issues which precluded the development at its nominated site could not be resolved.

However, the company advised that it remained interested in the Narrabri project and has now lodged a new DA for a store on the Narrabri Commercial Estate in a prime position on the corner of the Newell Highway, Saleyards Lane and Caroline Way.

If approved, the project would be Narrabri’s biggest new retail development in decades. The original DA represented an investment of $14 million.

“I welcome this project,” Narrabri Chamber of Commerce president Russell Stewart said.

“If Narrabri is to grow we must have business investment.”

The original proposed Bunnings’ store generated much community commentary, with many expressing support for the development and its implications for the growth of the shire, seeing it as an endorsement of the town’s potential, and others very concerned it would seriously impact on existing similar businesses.

According to the shire council report on community submissions on the original DA, of the 42 lodged, 14 were in support and 27 were against, with one requesting further information.

The original Bunnings DA had identified a total retail area of 5,075 square metres for the proposed store encompassing retail, a timber trades area, bagged goods area, nursery and building and landscaping materials yard.

The product range typically sold at Bunnings stores includes plants, gardening equipment and supplies, indoor and outdoor lighting, flooring, heating and cooling, hand and power tools, paint, home storage, kitchens and appliances, garden furniture and play equipment, plumbing and electrical products, building supplies and timber.

All these product lines are currently provided and serviced in Narrabri by established local small businesses.

However, proponents of similar large developments in country towns argue that the rise in business activity through an influx of out of town customers builds local business volumes generally.

The choice of Narrabri as a site for the Bunnings development was an endorsement of Narrabri as a strategic regional hub, Chamber of Commerce president Russell Stewart said.

“The selection of Narrabri indicates the developers would see the store’s catchment embrace neighbouring towns like Moree and to the south and encompass the communities in the west,” he said.

“Bunnings is a major and successful Australian business and their assessment would obviously include Narrabri’s anticipated growth.

“And the siting of the store here will encourage other businesses to look at Narrabri” he suggested.

Bunnings website proclaims that their stores assist and support a widespread and diverse range of community groups from grass roots causes to local sporting clubs, schools and hospitals.

Any member of the community is invited to make a written submission on the Bunnngs Development Application. Objections must include the grounds for objection.