Site still fuels speculation

By Ed Merrison
KALLISTA’S former petrol station continues to pump out more speculation than certainty despite its sale earlier this year.
Corey Weekes of commercial real estate group CB Richard Ellis (CBRE) said a private investor paid $380,000 for the former Ampol site about four months ago.
Mr Weekes said it might take up to 12 months to settle the sale, which depends on an environmental clean up.
He said the tanks were being removed and it was unlikely a new station would replace the Ampol that closed at the end of November 2005.
However, the land is still zoned for business and Mr Weekes said the possibility could not be ruled out.
Kallista people remain eager to find out what will occupy the site, and many hope to see a new petrol station.
Kallista Primary School principal Barbara Rose said the lack of station was inconvenient.
“It’s annoying when you live in the Hills and have to go down to the flats for petrol,” she said.
“I’d be happy to pay Hills prices to avoid the inconvenience of going all that way.”
Sherbrooke resident Wilson Mignerey said he would welcome another petrol station.
“It’s a useful place, in between Monbulk and Belgrave,” he said.