A NEW self-serve petrol station that has divided public opinion will soon be built in Glossop, after the application was approved by the region’s development assessment panel.
The development, set to replace the currently vacant petrol station on Anderson Terrace, will also include a vehicle wash station and a dog wash, but was strongly opposed by some neighbouring residents.
The Riverland Regional Assessment Panel approved the application at a meeting on Tuesday night, after receiving eight representations and a petition signed by community members arguing against the proposal, plus four representations in favour.
Objections raised by representors included increased heavy vehicle traffic, occurrence of light-night activity, additional noise and the dispersion of water onto the Old Sturt Highway.
Representations in support of the development focused on the plan being “good for the growth of Glossop” economically.
In a report to the panel recommending the approval of the application, consultant planner Andrew Cronin said the proposal was consistent with a majority of the relevant provisions of the Berri Barmera Council Development Plan.
“The proposed adaptive reuse of a site that once accommodated a petrol-filling station, shop, post office and dwelling for a similar use… will provide customers in the Glossop and Riverland region with additional services and encourage further investment in the town,” he said.
Mr Cronin said the service station could create “tension” with nearby residents and infrastructure without proper site management, but restrictions placed on the business would help protect the value of neighbouring properties without significantly limiting trade.
Conditions imposed by the approval include the limiting of operation hours to 7am to 10pm from Monday to Saturday, and 9am to 10pm on Sundays and public holidays, a provision to ensure stormwater does not cause nuisance to adjacent properties, and a range of environmental protection directions.
In his report, Mr Cronin said although noise from the site was likely to “offend the daytime noise criteria” at times, frequent noise from passing heavy traffic would exceed the same criteria.
He also noted that the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) stated in its report that it had “no particular concerns insofar as the proposal being likely to cause environmental harm with the measures proposed”.
The proposal was put forward by QAT Investments, which owns the Shell Get and Go Glossop service station.