General News
20 January, 2026
Parking to go for new store
A POPULAR inner-city public car park is to make way for a new purpose-built BCF store if approved by Cairns Regional Council.
The lease of the Bunda St car park is not being renewed on June 30 with a development application before the council for the BCF building and another showroom.
According to an application by Brazier Motti, on behalf of Kier Qld, the site also includes the Cape York Hotel, which is currently subject to an application by Cowboys Leagues Club to covert the premises to a club for their NRLW team. The land is owned by either MF and DM Moule Super Pty Ltd or D and M Moule Holdings Pty Ltd.
Existing vehicle hire, builder’s storage and car parking will be removed from the site, says the application.
The BCF showroom, which is currently on the corner of Mulgrave Rd and Buchan St at Bungalow, will cover 3500sqm and another separate building of 2000sqm, with the occupant to be confirmed.
“The tenant for tenancy one is BCF which provides for the sale of outdoor products of related product line and being of size that requires a large area for handling, display and storage, and needing direct vehicle access for customers to enable the loading and unloading of the goods,” the application says.
The building (above) will feature a fitment bay for automotive or marine accessories and a rear loading zone capable of handling large delivery trucks, including B-doubles.
“The club (parking) component of development pertains to the provision of 30 secured and boom gated parking spaces on the subject land which will be for sole use by the club.”
In total there will be 174 car spaces comprising:
30 secured parking spaces behind boom gates for use by the proposed club
110 parking spaces for the proposed showrooms provided at the rate required by the planning scheme
34 parking spaces for future use in the next stage of development (uture development includes a 4300sqm L-shaped building).
A Cairns Regional Council spokeswoman said officers would now assess the impact of the loss of spaces.
“Council’s lease at the Bunda Street car park expires on 30 June 2026 and the landholder has made us aware recently that the lease will not be renewed,” she said.
“We provide more than 6400 parking places in Cairns, including about 4700 in the CBD, through a mix of on-street parking and off-street car parks, including the Lake Street multi-storey car park, which regularly has 50-100 spaces available.
“Council constantly reviews parking options in the city to ensure a regular turnover of vehicles to balance the needs of visitors, shoppers, businesses and employees.
“Council will now take into consideration the impact of the lease not being renewed.”
