Servo plan has council concerned

Developer to address more issues

COUNCIL has taken the developer of a controversial service station to task over a list of “outstanding issues” that need to be addressed before it makes a decision on the proposal.

Toowoomba Regional Council has identified 16 issues with the service station and carwash proposed by Marakech Pty Ltd on swamp land in Crows Nest, some of which, if addressed, will require significant re-working of the facility’s design.

Council officers’ concerns primarily relate to the situation of the development on a floodplain, and the possibility of contamination of one of the Toowoomba region’s main drinking water supplies, Cressbrook Dam.

Officers have also requested the developer re-design the proposed service station and car wash in a way that does not involve importing 2,673 cubic metres of soil to fill-in the floodplain and raise the height of the development.

According to the council’s most recent report, council officers also “have significant concerns that the inherent risks associated with bulk hydrocarbon storage in such close proximity to a major drinking water storage facility is too high”.

The officers are concerned that both surface and ground waters moving through the site flow directly into Cressbrook Dam, one of the council’s main drinking water supplies.

Council has asked the developer to demonstrate the relationship between surface water, shallow ground water and the underlying aquifer, as well as how the service station and associated works will be designed and managed to prevent any contamination.

An information meeting organised by the community and held in Crows Nest on April 17 saw about 300 people turn out to hear about the proposal.

The developer has confirmed it will respond to council’s list of outstanding issues.