The rich history and iconic status of Caboolture’s Big Fish site will be further enhanced when the Big Fish Travel Centre opens in late May.
The first instalment of a three-stage project valued in excess of $100 million, The Big Fish Travel Centre will house a Caltex service station including the company’s new-look convenience store ‘The Foodary’ which offers motorists breakfast, lunch and dinner options and freshly-made coffee; a Red Rooster drive thru; and three speciality food court tenants.
Caltex Australia’s Acting General Manager of Convenience Development, Beatrice Bowen, said, "We're excited to bring The Foodary to customers in Caboolture. The Foodary is a fresh take on convenience offering fresh, healthy food on-the-go and barista-made coffee."
The site, identified by Colliers International Consultancy for Eildon Funds Management in late 2015, will provide a welcome refuelling stop for the 60,000 plus vehicles that pass by (along the Bruce Highway) each day, as well as the growing Pumicestone Road community catchment.
“We [Colliers International Consulting] were attracted to the site for a number reasons including high exposure to the Bruce Highway at a major interchange with Pumicestone Road; the iconic nature and popularity of the site with commercial and retail tenants; the strong population growth and economic forecast for the Moreton Bay Region; the existence of historical approvals which provided for a number of uses; and the apparent market gap for services at a highly accessible location, in a growing area,” said David Skerrett, Associate Director Consultancy.
Stage 2 of the project, approved by Moreton Bay Regional Council in late 2017, will include a full-line supermarket, smaller supermarket, over 900m² of specialty retail, a vet, gymnasium/indoor sport and recreation, and 345 car parks. Currently going through detailed design, early preliminary works are likely to commence in late 2018.
“Stage 2 of the project will deliver much needed neighbourhood shopping and retail services for northern Caboolture, southern Sunshine Coast and eastern coastal areas including Elimbah, Toorbul, Donnybrook, east Caboolture and towards Bribie Island, which is an area that has been underserviced in terms of weekly shopping needs for a long time,” said Mr Skerrett.
Supported uses for Stage 3 of the project, also in the early phases of planning, include child care, medical services, trade and service related activities and accommodation.
Developing the 15 hectare site posed a number of challenges including the requirement for the delivery of major infrastructure including water, sewer and road upgrades, which up to that point had made most redevelopment options unfeasible. Under the development, Eildon Funds Management financed the provision of sewer and water up the remainder of Pumicestone Road to the value of $4.8 million dollars, and a new set of lights at Bigmor Drive worth $1.2 million.
A spokesperson for Eildon Funds Management said, “Since Eildon Funds acquired the site in 2015, we have gone about a program of improvements to restore and enhance the site. From the outset, Eildon Funds took a holistic approach, and has at its own cost brought forward the delivery of the major infrastructure including water, sewer and a new intersection in order to make the entire site development ready.
“We are committed to this site, and see our up-front investment in this critical infrastructure as important to unlocking the site, but also to delivering important and essential services to the area.
“The support that the project has received from the public has been exceptional, with many commenting that it has been great to see the site moving ahead after languishing for a long period due to closures and the road resumptions. We have also been approached by individuals and community groups giving their support for what we are doing, and how these retail and commercial activities are so needed in this location.”
Moreton Bay Regional Council Division Three Councillor Adam Hain said, “As the population begins to migrate north, jobs and growth is sure to be on the menu for residents. North Lakes and these other areas are filling up, and we are seeing larger numbers coming into the northern region, as recently seen in population growth statistics showing Caboolture at number one.
“This is certainly the biggest community hub development in the Pumicestone Road corridor that we have ever seen, and this new development will mean great things for both current nearby residents and for Caboolture itself.
“It’s not just jobs or economic growth, it’s about cleaning up traffic issues through Caboolture CBD and Morayfield as well. Residents won’t have to drive into the Caboolture CBD anymore, and we will see traffic easement down Buchanan Road and into Morayfield Shopping Centre. This development is very exciting.”