Business
13 November, 2025
Commissioner hears concerns over proposed Woolworths
A proposed Woolworths development in Moss Vale would split the town and compound existing traffic woes, objectors have told a Commissioner from the Land and Environment Court. Four local residents including a former deputy mayor of Wingecarribee Shire Council voiced their concerns with Commissioner Peter Walsh at an on-site hearing earlier today.
A proposed Woolworths development in Moss Vale would split the town and compound existing traffic woes, objectors have told a Commissioner from the Land and Environment Court.
Four local residents including a former deputy mayor of Wingecarribee Shire Council voiced their concerns with Commissioner Peter Walsh at an on-site hearing earlier today.
The Woolworths application was refused by the NSW Department of Planning’s Southern Region Planning Panel (SRPP) in May this year but Woolworths appealed the decision in the Land and Environment Court on July 2.
The application is for a new Woolworths supermarket along with a BWS liquor store, retail outlets, commercial offices, an outdoor carwash and 291 paid carparking spaces.
Woolworths is also planning to subdivide the land behind the existing Mobil petrol station and KFC and build 30 residential apartment villas.
Former Wingecarribee Shire councillor and deputy mayor Ian Scandrett – who owns property adjoining the vacant site – said the proposed Woolworths development was simply “not the right development for this part of town”.
He said the traffic implications would be “horrendous” and the development would only compound the existing traffic problems in Argyle Street.
He said Argyle Street was already ‘jammed’ for most of the day and the Woolworths development would “add to the problems we already have”.
“This will compound existing problems dramatically,” he told the Commissioner.
Mr Scandrett said he had “no problem with Woolworths” but questioned whether Moss Vale residents needed more choice given the town already had three supermarkets.
“It’s simply the effect they will have on this part of the shire and on the main street,” he said.
“All we’re doing is splitting the town,” Mr Scandrett said.
Johnathan Crowe, who owns a property in Hoskins Street opposite the development site, told the Commissioner that his major concerns related to traffic and safety.
He described Hoskins Street as “quiet and neighbourly” and said it would simply be unable to handle a significant increase in traffic.
He said increased traffic would also present a risk to the safety of children using the Hoskins Street park, which is also directly opposite the development site.
Mr Crowe also raised concerns about drainage.
He said there was minimal drainage in the area and stormwater regularly inundated the sewerage system.
He said his property had been flooded with raw sewage on three occasions in recent years and fears the existing system will be unable to cope with a development of this size.
Moss Vale resident Claire McKay said the Woolworths development would disrupt the town’s walkability.
She said existing businesses were able to function together and relied on the foot traffic generated by one another.
“Walkability is really important for a town like this,” she said.
Ms McKay said existing businesses would “feel the pull away” if the Woolworths development goes ahead.
“This is the wrong development in the wrong place for this town,” she said.
Ms McKay also raised concerns about increased traffic.
She described Argyle Street as “woefully inadequate” with bumper-to-bumper traffic throughout the day.
She also said a new supermarket wouldn’t add to competition and that the three existing supermarkets “give us what we need”.
Long-term Moss Vale resident Kerrie Barnett also spoke about walkability.
She said she was not opposed to development but suggested Woolworths look at building corner stores in new housing developments, making it possible for families to walk to their nearest shop for what they need.
Mrs Barnett said such a move would “change the lives of people in housing developments” and create an enormous amount of "goodwill”.
“Woolworths will benefit and the community will benefit,” she told the Commissioner.
The on-site conciliation conference was followed by a confidential conciliation conference involving Woolworths and council representatives.
If conciliation fails a final decision will rest with the Land and Environment Court.
This morning’s on-site conciliation conference was only for the Commissioner to hear from objectors.
Woolworths or council representatives did not speak or respond to the concerns raised.
Read More: Moss Vale, Southern Highlands