A MAJOR Thornlands supermarket proposal - just the second for the Redlands in 16 years - is one step closer after a court appeal against the development was dismissed earlier this month.
A notice of appeal was lodged in the Planning and Environment Court nearly four years ago by the owners of three other local centres regarding the Paradise Gardens development.
It came after Redland City Council gave preliminary approval for the development on Panorama Drive and Boundary Road including a full-line supermarket, which would be the second largest of its kind in the Redlands.
The retail portion of the development would also include specialty shops, including a discount chemist, a medical centre, service station and tavern.
Homes and larger lots and a green space area, including a market garden and outdoor cafe, would be built.
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The appellants - Lipoma, Lanrex and Victoria Point Lakeside - were concerned the Nerinda development conflicted with existing area plans.
Other worries included noise and light disruption, koala issues, general amenity and traffic.
"The proposed development would prejudice the orderly and balanced planning of the area," the original appeal read.
The appellants the development could threaten existing and planned centres, and under the Redlands Planning Scheme the land had been intended to be used as housing and green space.
They also argued there was no need for a development of that scale.
A lawyer for council said no district centre had been provided in the planning scheme in the vicinity of Kinross Road, which was a deficiency.
Other district and major centres included those at Victoria Point, Cleveland, Birkdale, Alexandra Hills, Redland Bay and Capalaba.
Judge Dean Morzone was told the centre would have a turnover of about $42 million in its first year.
There were many people whose commute from areas like Redland Bay, Victoria Point and Mount Cotton took them past the site, and commuters would likely stop to do their shopping on the way home in the absence of a major Redland Bay supermarket.
There had also been significant population growth in southern Thornlands, which was expected to continue.
Judge Morzone said the Redlands Planning Scheme did not embody what was in the public interest and there was enough need to justify going against the scheme.
"The question is whether the residents can be better and more conveniently serviced with appropriate access to a full-line supermarket and complementary stores, and a tavern," he said.
Two years ago, the Planning and Environment Court refused the development due to conflicts with the scheme.
Apart from the Mount Cotton IGA, it would be the first Redlands full-line supermarket to be built since the Victoria Point Town Centre Woolworths in 2003.
