Perth’s first Costco to be based north of the river is a step closer with the proposed Alkimos store receiving the official green light from planning authorities.
On Tuesday, the $80 million development proposal received unanimous support from the Metro Outer Development Assessment Panel.
The 14,193sqm warehouse will be built on a vacant 66,821sqm site along Romeo Road near the current end of the Mitchell Freeway, becoming Costco’s third Perth warehouse and first north of the river.
The American retail giant will be the centrepiece of Alkimos Central’s new 24ha Home X Trade Hub, where more than 17 hectares of vacant land have been earmarked for future commercial development.
Though supported by the City of Wanneroo, Tuesday’s planning approval came with several conditions, including one based on a Main Roads WA recommendation that limits heavy-vehicle access.
Main Roads said there was insufficient information to demonstrate 27.5-metre B-double trucks could safely negotiate the future Romeo Road and Benenden Avenue intersection, resulting in a recommendation that heavy vehicles be limited to 19 metres.
Developers acting on behalf of Costco told the panel the retailer would work to address the issue so the larger trucks could be accommodated.
“Costco, for its deliveries, generally uses a 27-and-a-half-meter-long vehicle, but we accept that there will need to be some adjustments to some of the existing and proposed road networks in order to accommodate that,” a developer said.
“So, subject to this approval being granted, it is our intention to liaise with Development WA and the other relevant agencies to address that, and then we will foreshadow at a later stage that we would look to amend that approval condition.”
The condition limiting heavy vehicles to 19 metres was later amended by the panel to allow longer trucks if approved by the City of Wanneroo.
In addition to the bulk-buy supermarket, the warehouse will include all the usual Costco offerings, including an optometrist, hearing centre, food court and tyre centre.
The store will be permitted to trade from 10am to 8.30pm Monday to Friday, 9am to 6.30pm on Saturdays, and 10am to 6pm on Sundays.
A 16-bowser service station will also form part of the development and will operate from 6am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 6am to 7.30pm on Saturdays and 7am to 7pm on Sundays.
A total of 870 parking bays are planned for the site, exceeding the 474 required for a development of this size.
Access to the store’s car park will be provided via the future extensions of Benenden Avenue to the east and Longnor Parkway to the north.
A traffic impact assessment included in the development application found the proposal is expected to generate 1222 vehicle trips during the weekday afternoon peak hour, but this would not significantly affect the surrounding road network.
Founded in Seattle in 1983, Costco has grown into one of the world’s largest membership-based retailers, selling everything from bulk groceries and furniture to electronics, homewares, toys, apparel, liquor, and health and beauty products.
It entered the Australian market in 2009 and opened its first Perth warehouse at Perth Airport in 2020, followed by a second in Casuarina in 2022.
Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.
Sign up for our emails