A proposal to build a drive-through coffee chain outlet has drawn backlash from the community, but the owners have responded.
Plans for a new Bean Squeeze coffee outlet on the Midland Highway were lodged with Golden Plains Shire council in March.
Bean Squeeze, established in 2006 as Victoria’s first drive-through coffee shop, has 10 outlets across Geelong, including a recently opened Moorabool St store.
Bean Squeeze co-owner Doji Singer, who founded the company with Andrew Pec, said there had been “numerous people” asking to see a Bean Squeeze in Bannockburn.
He said the business “definitely had quite a lot of interest” from people in the area, but also from commuters between Geelong and Ballarat.
Planning application documents reveal the designs for Bean Squeeze’s planned Bannockburn location.
“We are hoping to provide a convenient location for people passing on the Midland Highway and continuing northwest bound, plus for more local area residents to easily stop and get a great coffee,” Mr Singer said.
“As usual, if we get the go-ahead we will build a very quality development with great landscaping and garden areas.”
However, Bannockburn resident Morgana Cole said the community largely didn’t want to see a chain coffee establishment come to town.
“I don’t think Bannockburn really needs it,” she said.
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“We’ve already got three cafes (and a) drive-through place, plus all three service stations of Bannockburn offer coffee of some sort.
“I’m pretty sure we’re good for coffee.”
Posts in a local Facebook group about the proposal drew a variety of opinions, including residents concerned the new addition would negatively impact other local cafes.
Ms Cole said she understood the appeal of Bean Squeeze – “fast coffee and fast food” – but she didn’t see a need for it.
“This is not Geelong – people keep coming out here to try and make it into the city, and it’s not,” she said.
“Bannockburn has already lost its country appeal.
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“They come for the country feel, but people bring the city with them.
“We can’t even get the supermarket done properly – we don’t need yet another coffee shop.”
Mr Singer said Bean Squeeze employed about 200 people, and the new development would create a further 15 local jobs.
In the planning application, the drive-through bar was flagged as costing $750,000.
“Just like a trip to the supermarket nowadays, the prices just keep going up,” Mr Singer said.
“Being a green field site, this one will end up well north of $1m.”
A Golden Plains Shire council spokesperson said it had received two objections to the application in relation to the interface between the site and low-density residential area, operation times, landscaping requirements and increased traffic.
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