AN appeal to the Land and Environment Court could delay construction of a $75 million bulky and whitegoods retail centre by up to a year.

With siteworks already complete on the Cairns Homemaker Centre on the corner of Draper and Kenny streets, Townsville developer Laurence Lancini was hoping to start construction after the wet season on the project which will create 800 retail jobs.

However, shopping centre giant Lend Lease - the owner of Cairns Central - has lodged an appeal against Cairns Regional Council's approval of the project on the former Cairns Plywood site.

It is the second major retail development in Cairns being held up by an appeal to the Planning and Environment Court with Mirvac's $65 redevelopment of Mt Sheridan Plaza on hold because of an appeal by Stockland.

The appeal by Lend Lease was lodged with the Land and Environment Court in Brisbane on November 25.

It cites a number of grounds including traffic hazard, unclear definition of what a Homemaker Centre is, flooding, car parking, no plan for removal of marine plants and inconsistency with the Cairns Plan.

As well, the claim says the project would result in the removal of heritage listed structure - the old mill - which was demolished after the project was approved by the council.

Mr Lancini told The Cairns Post he intended to fight the appeal "tooth and nail", but feared the project could be delayed by as much as 12 months until the appeal was heard.

"We won't be walking away from this and I have instructed our lawyers to seek a directions hearing as quickly as possible," Mr Lancini said.

"I am very disappointed. We bought the site, put in a comprehensive development application and Cairns Regional Council was very happy with the standard of our application and documentation.

"This appeal could delay a start on construction until August or September or take out most of next year."

Mr Lancini said he found it difficult to understand the nature of the Lend Lease appeal, particularly given the Homemaker Centre would not be competing against Cairns Central businesses.

Lend Lease did not return calls yesterday.

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