Mayor opposes plan

MAYOR Jenny Hill has questioned plans for a service station and fast- food outlet with drive- through in an area Townsville City Council has earmarked for unit development in Aitkenvale.

Martin Corporation ( NQ) Pty Ltd lodged an application for material change of use over vacant residential land at 206- 210 Nathan St next to Cedar Lodge in August 2016.

The issue is set to be decided at the council’s monthly meeting tomorrow.

It has already passed through the council’s planning committee on an officer’s recommendation that it be should approved.

At the committee meeting, Cr Hill flagged she would not support the application.

Cr Hill said the council would be devaluing the principles of the planning scheme set by the previous council if it supported the application.

The 3000sq m site is in a medium- density residential area where five- level units can be built although it currently adjoins one buildings.

“I really think ( the application) devalues what we are trying to achieve in our planning scheme,” Cr Hill said.

Also, with five service stations under construction or operating with a 2km radius, Cr Hill said she did not agree there was a need for the development.

Cr Maurie Soars questioned whether the council was on firm legal ground should it refuse the application and the applicant appealed, adding: “We haven’t been that successful of late.”

Planning director Eber Butron said both the Mayor’s concerns and the officer’s recommendations were valid but that it was “hard to predict the way a court would go”.

The officer’s recommendation was to approve the application subject to conditions including that the service station’s and food outlet’s operation be restricted to 6am to 10pm and that a 2.8m- high acoustic barrier be constructed on the northern, eastern and southern boundaries of the property.

The applicant proposed that the service station operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. and two- level