TRC rejects extension to 10-year servo approval

A TOOWOOMBA developer asking for a six-month extension to an approval of a truck service station and motel already more than 10 years old has been denied by the council.

Councillors yesterday voted to refuse an extension to the application on the Warrego Highway near Kingsthorpe, which was first approved in 2008.

Developer Peter Hart spent $188,000 trying to push through extensions and further reports to the site since buying the land and taking over the application in January 2017 from Sunset Oakey, which went into receivership.

Precinct Urban Planning’s Andrew Bullen told the councillors that his client had experienced major delays in developing the site since the previous extension in July 2017.

Among the challenges were a requirement to do multiple traffic reports for the Department of Transport Main Roads after it back-flipped on its decision to widen the Warrego Highway last year.

During the same period, Mr Bullen said Mr Hart also lost his father, adding a personal toll to an already lengthy planning process.

“My client did genuinely set out to act on that approval,” he said.

“Since he’s been in control of the approval, he’s taken steps to act on it.

“We’re asking for council’s understanding that we set out in all good faith, and that Peter’s actions are not someone who didn’t want to build this.”

On the same day the extension was requested on July 4, Mr Hart also submitted a “minor change” application to remove several elements of the original development, including the motel, truck wash and food outlets, to make it a selfserve truck fuel station.

Cr Anne Glasheen moved the recommendation to refuse an extension, citing the age of the application and changes to the planning scheme.

Mayor Paul Antonio, Cr Mike Williams and Cr Geoff McDonald voted to extend.