Avenel residents who crowded into their public hall last Tuesday to hear Strathbogie Shire Council’s decision on a planning matter concerning the Caltex Service Station relieved at the outcome. Present were Councillors Gregory Carlson (chairing the meeting), Robin Steers, Mick Williams, Ronda Richards and Robin Weatherald and Council planning officers.

Town Planner Steven Hicks told the Committee that the service station owners had applied to Council for a permit to expand their truck parking area. A current permit allows for nine designated truck bays, but Contour Consultants (acting for Milemaker Petroleum) has applied to Council for permission to create a parking facility for up to 26 trucks on vacant land the company purchased recently at the rear of the existing premises. Mr Hicks detailed the proposal, including all referrals to relevant bodies (VicRoads, the Environment Protection Authority Victoria, the Department of Sustainability and the Environment, Goulburn Valley Region Water Corporation, the Country Fire Authority and Heritage Victoria). He said that, subsequent to the proposal being advertised for public information, 45 objections were received from local residents as well as 7 complaints referring to current operations at the site. The Shire Planning Department recommended issuing the planning permit subject to a comprehensive list of conditions.

Due to the level of interest shown, Council decided to hold its Planning Committee meeting at the Avenel Public Hall, where it convened on Tuesday to hear verbal submissions. Eight people rose to speak, and it was obvious that feelings were strong on the subject. Apart from current and future issues concerning safety and pollution levels (noise, air, water), a major contention was that the service station is too close to the township and should not be encouraged to expand.

The facility was built in 1995 to serve both local traffic and users of the old Hume Highway, when it was the only service station between Seymour and Euroa. Purpose-built Freeway Service Centres were constructed just outside Seymour and Wangaratta when the Highway became a Freeway, and it is VicRoads policy that these should occur at approximately fifty-kilometre intervals and be dedicated to Freeway traffic. However, in contravention of its own policies, VicRoads was forced by financial limitations to allow direct access to the Freeway at Avenel and Longwood, rather than proper access roads.

These cross-overs have demonstrated their disastrous nature by becoming ‘black spots’ with several fatalities at each. Twelve of these have occurred at Avenel, where the turn-off lanes are apparently about 50 metres shorter than recommended and B-doubles travelling south frequently cross the Freeway into the service station and then back again, their double bogies effectively blocking the north-bound land while waiting to make the 90° turn towards Melbourne.

Noise pollution was a serious issue for the township, as the sound of air brakes carries some distance and can be heard at all hours. Contour’s solution of erecting sound-reduction fencing around the proposed new parking area did not please the objectors, who said that the size of any effective barrier would greatly reduce their visual amenity, whether it was ‘landscaped’ or not. Access would also have to be provided via Jones Street (running alongside the property, away from the Freeway), which would bring truck with their noise and fumes further into the township itself. One resident stated that already in recent times, the installation of a new canopy and pumps had effectively halved the distance between the service station and his family home.

A major problem for everyone is the existence of the service station on or within the town boundary. It was not purpose-built for the Freeway and even though conditions were imposed on the last development permit to try and mitigate any impact. It was generally agreed that no further incursion into the local community should be allowed.

Speaking for Contour Consultants, Mr Andrew Fletcher said that he had come not to argue with residents but to note their grievances and see what could be done to alleviate the situation. He stated that despite having spent $1.23 million on the site prior to applying for the current permit, it was not the client’s intention to increase the business itself, but to resolve an existing problem: that of truck parking in residential streets. To prove their good faith, he said, the company had already agreed to abandon the idea of adding a truck-washing facility and to excise that portion of land on which stands a stone cottage of historical interest (believed to be the original Cobb & Co depot). He added that the client had no control over such matters as Freeway access or width and therefore could do nothing to help in those respects.

Chairman Carlson called upon the Councillors present for a motion and Cr Steers proposed that the planning permit be refused for all the reasons put forward by the objectors. Cr Williams agreed, stating that encouraging more trucks to stop in the area, coupled with an expected increased use of B-triples in the immediate future, would be sure to affect the accident rate and levels of trauma for local emergency services personnel and other residents as well as the amenity of the township.

Cr Weatherald announced a disclosure of interest, being a service station owner/operator himself. However, he spoke against the motion. His reasons for doing so were several:

• this is only a permit to plan, not a permit to build;

• the list of conditions drawn up by the Planning Department was considerable and indicated the amount of work that had gone into their consideration of the matter;

• refusal of a permit to plan will inevitably be referred to VCAT by the proponent, who is almost certain to win, thus reducing Council’s ability to deny a building permit in the future; (Cr Weatherald said that Council is already involved in litigation - over the proposed Gooram Quarry - costing ratepayers $20,000 a day) and

• his own experience at BP in Euroa has demonstrated what neighbours can achieve in terms of curtailing business activity.

Although abstaining from the vote, Cr Weatherald urged his fellow Councillors to grant the permit, which already has VicRoads approval (subject to conditions), in order to provide the best possible options for Council and its responsibility to all ratepayers, not just those concerned here.

Given the right to respond, Cr Steers acknowledged the diligence of the Planning officers but concluded simply, “The conditions didn’t matter, it’s just not the right site.” The motion was then carried.