Petrol station gets deadline extension

A LONG-AWAITED service station proposed near a major roundabout on the Surf Coast Highway has been given a new deadline to be built.

Development on the proposed station, on the corner of Torquay and Lower Mount Duneed roads, now has until November 2022 to commence after a permit extension.

Initial plans faced opposition from some residents in 2016, and the City of Greater Geelong failed to grant a permit within the prescribed time.

Surf Coast Shire council also lodged an objection, claiming the development would be an “inappropriate intrusion” into the settlement break between Geelong and Torquay.

But the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal later approved a permit.

Apco director Peter Anderson said the station, about 600m south of the southern edge of Armstrong Creek, would provide an important service to the local community. “There is basically no fuel from when you leave Geelong city to Torquay,” he said.

“You look at the other way through Mount Duneed, and there is nothing from Anglesea until you hit Barwon Heads. It’s something that is definitely needed.

“It’s just unfortunate that it has taken a lot longer than we hoped to get the project together.”

He said the project faced delays due to issues with the optical fibre network and power upgrades.

“We hope to have a tender in the second half of this year, and for builders to start on it later this year,” he said.

It is proposed the service station will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provide employment for 40 staff.