Ready, set … Costco!

Ipswich City Council has given the green light for the giant Costco store and service station at Bundamba.

Planning, Development and Heritage Committee Chairperson Cr David Morrison said work could now officially begin at the Ashburn Rd site to build the retail warehouse, which will be the equivalent in size to two football fields.

Cr Morrison said the US company had set an opening date for between September and December.

Costco first announced plans to open its second Queensland warehouse in Ipswich to much fanfare in September 2017, and has since been working on gaining relevant approvals and preparing the site for construction.

“The application material indicates the location of the development in Citiswich at Bundamba suits the unique locational requirements of Costco, with excellent freeway access to a large customer base,” he said.

“Of particular note is the accessibility of the site to a large regional catchment with good access to Ipswich, the western corridor of metropolitan Brisbane and regional areas further west, which is expected to grow.

“The proposed development will provide a net community benefit through investment in the local area, potentially acting as a catalyst for investment in the region, and will contribute to local employment initially through construction then long-term sustainable employment through the operational phase of the use.”

Division 4 Councillor Kylie Stoneman said Costco would be a huge boost to the area as the premises would employ 330 full-time and part-time staff, open seven days a week with extended trading hours, provide 823 on-site car parking spaces, and discount petrol at its service station.

“This is a major development and a major boost to Ipswich and South East Queensland.  Shoppers will come from far and wide to buy low cost merchandise for their own use or for re-sale by local businesses and suppliers,” Cr Stoneman said.

The Bundamba block (opposite the Puma Travel Centre service station) was levelled in November and future work will include construction of a new road from the existing roundabout at Ashburn Rd and Hawkins Crescent.

The Department of Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning has also signed off on the Costco project, subject to conditions.

“Costco has now been given the green light to get on with the next phase of works and approvals and we look forward to the doors opening before Christmas 2018,” Cr Morrison said.