The Woolworths shopping precinct at Bulli is set to expand, with a KFC restaurant planned for the site.
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The supermarket giant has lodged a development application (DA) with Wollongong City Council to upsize its existing “neighbourhood shopping centre” on the corner of the Princes Highway and Molloy Street.
The precinct already includes a Woolworths supermarket, Caltex-Woolworths service station and a number of specialty stores.
The KFC forms part of an updated proposal, with Woolworths having previously flagged an intention to build more specialty shops.
As part of the latest proposal, existing buildings fronting the Princes Highway – currently occupied by Bulli Smash Repairs – would be demolished to make way for the fast food restaurant.
The existing Molloy Street entry to the shopping precinct would be widened and converted to a two-way road, while an additional 51 spaces would be added to the complex’s current car park.
Traffic can already enter and exit the precinct from new traffic lights at the intersection of the Princes Highway and Organs Road, which were installed as part of the supermarket build.
A traffic report commissioned as part of the DA said the proposed parking provisions were considered appropriate, the expanded car park would “improve circulation and parking compared to the existing situation” and little impact would be felt by motorists on nearby roads.
“The surrounding road network can cater for the additional traffic generated by the proposed development with surrounding intersections continuing to operate at satisfactory or better levels of services,” the DA said.
The new KFC would operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
However the DA stated trading hours could vary depending on market demand.
The restaurant would cover an area of about 275 square metres and include seating for up to 66 people, with a maximum of eight staff working there at any one time.
Signage – including a large, eight-metre high Colonel’s bucket – would be erected as part of the development.
The DA said the new restaurant was “considered appropriate” and “no significant impacts are envisaged to occur upon the amenity of surrounding properties”.
The council first approved Woolworths’ plans for a complex at Bulli in 2011 but the work stalled in January 2014 due to remediation works.
The supermarket and associated complex, worth $35 million, opened in November last year.
Woolworths has indicated the proposed KFC development “has a value of more than $20 million”.
The KFC application, lodged by Woolworths’ in-house corporate property division Fabcot Pty Ltd, is on public exhibition until January 20.