Wyndham’s planning committee has voted to support a plan to redevelop a busy petrol station in Hoppers Crossing, albeit with a catch.
Earlier in the year, council received a planning permit application to demolish and rebuild the APCO service station located at 176-178 Morris Road.
The proposed upgraded site would include a convenience store, café, kitchen and customer seating area.
A group of local residents petitioned against the expansion of the site, which has been in operation since 1986, due to the high volume of patrons causing traffic congestion in the area.
The application is set to be heard by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in December.
On Tuesday, August 12, council elected to back the applicant at VCAT on the condition vehicle queuing must be facilitated on site, and not spill onto the main road.
The applicant Peter Anderson raised an objection to the clause in the chamber, claiming that he cannot control the traffic and having queuing on site may require him to remove several bowsers.
“It is problematic because people want fuel at competitive prices, put yourself in my position – I could be made to remove my petrol pumps,” Mr Anderson said.
“That’s what you are asking me to accept, but I am not going to accept it and I will challenge it at VCAT.”
Councillor Shannon McGuire said he supported the condition.
“Ultimately, I am happy that there is that protection in place as it stands because it does put ownership on the petrol station,” he said.
“It’s supply and demand – if you’ve got queuing you can increase the price of the petrol to stop the queuing.
“Can we be certain it will be better? No, but I guess the option is if we say no to this we keep the status quo which is not good.
“The business owner has a responsibility to the community to not make this traffic worse.”
Cr Larry Zhao said the proposal will provide a better outcome for residents living near the station.
“I recognise that there are still some people who are unhappy about this proposal, but I believe it is a vast improvement on what is currently in place,” he said.
