IT’S SERVO OVERLOAD ON COOK HIGHWAY

IF nothing else, there will be no excuse to run out of petrol in the northern beaches of Cairns following news Palm Cove will be getting another service station. The latest servo has been approved by Cairns Regional Council, to be built at the former Cairns Tropical Zoo just before the turn-off to the popular holiday spot.

If it is constructed there will be seven petrol stations within a 10km radius of the Captain Cook Highway.

While filling the car up is an obvious and important necessity – albeit a depressing one given the current price of fuel – one is correct to question whether there is a better use of the location.

And plenty are doing just that, with its approval coming despite 289 submissions being taken against the prospect of a new servo.

A council needs analysis report has justified the area has the population growth to make the new fuel supplier viable.

That might be so, it’s just a shame a sexier development application hasn’t dropped on the planning team’s desk for the prime spot.

One of the big knocks is that it will put paid to hopes of a landscaping plan for Palm Cove, and the development of a grand entrance statement for “the Great Barrier Reef Highway”, as Division 9 councillor Brett Olds put it.

Its construction is expected to mean more traffic lights will be installed, too.

“Traffic lights are going to make it feel like suburbia is being extended,” Cr Olds said.

He is probably right.

But through major lobbying to the state government, he believes there’s a chance a roundabout could be included instead when the new servo is built, giving hope it can coexist with the spectacular entrance way some crave.

Mark Murray

Reporter