Plans to build a $4.5 million dollar supermarket at Wauchope on Australian Rail Track Corporation land at Wallace Street in Wauchope have been delayed after Councillors deferred a decision on the development.

The move will allow the applicant to investigate the lodgement of a new application under State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) Infrastructure, which allows permissible land use as adjacent zoned land. The land adjacent to the proposal is zoned Commercial.

I believe there is merit in the application to have a supermarket on Wallace Street in Wauchope, however I was unable to approve it, as it was not a permissible use in that zone at the time the application was lodged.

If the development application is resubmitted, it may be considered favourably under the new Infrastructure SEPP that allows developments on State-owned land if that use is permissible on an adjacent zone.

If this supermarket goes ahead, more people would do their shopping in Wauchope, which would be a boost for the smaller specialty shops in the main street.