A future United Petroleum service station and food outlet at Campbell Town will not be open 24 hours.
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A service station at 171-183 High Street has already been approved by the Northern Midlands Council, however an application to extend its future opening hours was denied by a seven to two vote at the Northern Midlands Council’s May meeting last week.
The decision was made by the council after its planning officer Erin Boer compiled a report stating that the application should be refused as it failed to meet three planning scheme requirements.
The application included three representors from the public who complained about potential noise pollution, light intrusion, contamination, loss of amenity and traffic implications.
“A 24-hour operation adjacent to existing and future residential, sensitive, uses will create a conflict in use, due to the loss of amenity experienced by the adjoining residential uses, due to noise intrusion,” Ms Boer said.
“The hours of operation will cause an unreasonable loss of amenity for future residential uses, due to noise intrusion.
“The new access arrangements fail to take into consideration the approved development...at 184 High Street, Campbell Town.”
The development at 184 High Street was approved by the council in August 2017 after it approved an application to re-zone the area for a 24-hour Caltas truck fuel stop.
Northern Midlands mayor David Downie said the council made its decision on the potential noise pollution.
“People objected to the noise and that it would impinge on the lifestyles of people who live around the site,” he said.
“I haven’t heard from the applicant, but I hope that United still build the facility.”
However, Cr Downie had a different personal opinion to the council.
He was one of two people, along with councillor Leisa Gordon, to vote in favour of United opening the service station for 24 hours.
Cr Downie said he, personally, would have liked to have seen the proposal go ahead.
“My personal opinion was that there is another approval for a 24-hour service station in Campbell Town and why not this one,” he said.
“Personally I think competition is good
“There are a lot of trucks that operate on the Midland Highway and it’s a good thing to have competition.”
Cr Downie said he thought ongoing construction works meant the area needed more petrol stations.
“Access to petrol stations on the Midland Highway is getting harder and we really need more fuel stops,” he said.
Stefan Boscia
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
Stefan came to The Examiner after working as a copywriter at a digital media firm in Melbourne and interning at The Conversation. He is enthusiastic about reporting on business, local government and environmental issues. When he is not chained to his work desk, Stefan enjoys getting brunch, reading Saul Bellow novels and watching Carlton games.
