A new service station in Fraser Rise is on the cards after Melton council granted a planning permit for the site, despite the plan receiving 42 community objections.
The 3711-square-metre site will be developed at the intersection of Taylors Road and Plumpton Road.
The service station will include six fuel bowsers with 12 pumps, an on-site café, and will be open for business 24-hours a day throughout the week.
There will also be a food and drink premises that will be open seven days a week.
A car wash with two vacuum bays and four wash bays will also operate at the site, open between 7am and 10pm.
The planning permit for the site received 42 community objections and nine submissions of support and was approved by council at the April 28 council meeting.
According to council, objections to the plan included concerns around amenity impacts in regards to health and safety, traffic issues, noise, light, air emissions, proximity to homes, and the storage of dangerous goods.
Council city growth and development manager Blake Angus said that while recognising community concerns, the proposal complies with the Melton Planning Scheme, and that council officers recommended supporting the application.
Councillor Sophie Ramsay drew attention to a page of the council report that mentioned a proposal for a similar service station site that was initially rejected by Yarra Ranges council.
“Although the emotive side of me says no, the councillor side of me needs to make the assessment on planning grounds,” Cr Ramsey said.
“The proposal in Yarra Ranges council, which was refused, had 194 objections. Lots of different health concerns and other concerns were noted and tested, and yet … VCAT overruled the decision,” she said.
“There are lots of people that need petrol stations. We need petrol stations in our municipality, we need independent petrol stations in our municipality, and if there [are] any concerns, I’m hoping that there would be planning enforcement down the track.”
Residents in opposition to the decision have 28 days from Monday, April 28 to appeal it with VCAT.
