Reduced hours gets 7-Eleven development across the line

Reduced operating hours has got a new service station, restaurant and convenience store across the line for Drouin.

Baw Baw Shire has issued a notice of decision supporting a planning application for a 7-Eleven service station development in Princes Way.

But the development will not operate 24 hours a day as originally requested.

Council considered an application at its February 14 meeting but the motion to approve the development was not supported.

Although councillors indicated they might support reduced operation hours, no motion was put forward at the meeting.

The matter was therefore brought back to council last week for a decision.

Council supported development of the service station, convenience store and restaurant on a site currently occupied by Drouin Tyre and Battery Service.

The service station and convenience store will operate seven days a week between 5am and 11pm, while the restaurant will operate between 7am and 10pm.

Permit conditions also restrict all deliveries to the site to 7am to 10pm seven days and week. Waste collection must be carried out between 7am and 8pm or 9am to 8pm on Sundays and public holidays.

Town planning consultant Spiro Neofilou told council said when council considered the matter two weeks earlier, there was some support but many councillors had concerns about the proposed 24 hour trading hours.

“Adjourning the matter gave us the opportunity to speak with the applicant.

“We would accept 5am to midnight or at the very least 11pm. The development still has to be feasible.

“I believe these revised hours address the concerns of some councillors,” he said.

Objector Gary Rischmuller said he was disappointed residents left the meeting not realising the matter hadn’t been dealt with.

He said council didn’t approve the application so many residents left thinking it had been refused. He said they weren’t aware the matter had not been finalised.

Mr Rischmuller said he expected most residents would be happy with the reduced hours.

Cr Jessica O’Donnell said the reduced operating hours was a fair compromise.

“Obviously operational times was a huge concern but I think the alternative recommendation makes that more satisfying,” she said.

Cr O’Donnell said EPA, VicRoads and council conditions addressed other odour and traffic concerns.

“I believe this is a good solution. I am comfortable the reduced hours will give some comfort to residents in the area,” she said.

Cr Danny Goss said he did not think the impact on residents would be as bad as they expect.

Cr Peter Kostos opposed the motion. He said it was a “large escalation” of use compared to the current use of the site, in a residential area.

“It is surrounded by residents and it is particularly unsafe,” he said.

Cr Darren Wallace also opposed the development because of its location.

“On one hand we have a local business with three petrol pumps that rarely get used. It is a family run business with limited hours being replaced by a Japanese owned American store that operates in 18 countries and will operate 18 hours a day seven days a week,” he said.

A number of surrounding residents objected to the original proposal, addressing council at the first meeting to raise concerns about the proposed operating hours, noise, behaviour of people late at night and impact on the amenity of residents.

The property is zoned general residential. Despite the existing use rights for the land, a planning permit is required to establish a service station and convenience store in a residential zone.

Planning officers said the location and existing use of the site made it beneficial for redevelopment of a modern service station.

“The immediate character of the area is already affected by multiple use carrying different level of amenity:

“The proposal can adequately replace the existing business and provide an adequate buffer between the surrounding industries (and highway) to the west and the dwellings to the east,” the report said.

The motion to approve the application was carried. Crs O’Donnell, Goss, Keith Cook, Joe Gauci and Michael Leaney supported the motion. Crs Kostos and Wallace were against it. Cr Mikaela Power declared a conflict of interest and Cr Tricia Jones was absent.