By Peter Douglas
MONBULK residents, agricultural businesses and traders will no longer have to travel as far as 10 kilometres to fill up their vehicles with fuel.
A Woolworths and Caltex co-branded petrol station is set to be constructed on the corner of Carcoola and Main roads in Monbulk, with Yarra Ranges Council unanimously paving the way for the construction at its Tuesday, 23 August, meeting.
Presently, the nearest service stations to Monbulk are around 7km to Silvan, 8km to Belgrave and 10km to Emerald.
Despite some opposition to the plan due to the proposed location, support for a service station within the township ultimately won over council.
The service station will comprise a single-storey station for the kiosk, which will sell some convenience goods, with operating hours to be between 5am and 11pm daily.
Also on the site will be three petrol dispensers, including diesel, along with one LPG dispenser.
Three underground fuel tanks and one underground LPG tank are proposed to be installed.
Objectors to the permit included nearby resident, Peter Wilkinson.
Mr Wilkinson said he wasn’t against a petrol station in the town, but the proposed plan.
“We are here tonight to reinforce the fact that some of the information does not stand up to scrutiny,” he told council.
Mr Wilkinson said his objections included issues with increased traffic flow, loss of car parks and inaccurate road dimensions on the plan.
“Today, using a trundle wheel (with a friend), we measured the actual drivable road-width … there is not enough … road for this plan.”
He also added; “The traffic flow plan that you are considering will eliminate all roadside parking spaces for residents of 164 to 184 Main Road and businesses opposite them”.
“These 16 publicly owned spaces will be compensated for eight privately owned spaces within the service station … a rather lopsided type of compensation,” he said.
He also asked council why a roundabout option wasn’t supported by VicRoads, given there are three existing roundabouts in the main road.
However, Mr Wilkinson failed to sway council, with mayor, Cr Jason Callanan, moving the motion before launching into an impassioned plea for the township to get its service station.
“Monbulk is a thriving rural township that supports the majority of the red soil agriculture businesses that surround it,” he said.
“This thriving township has many services … but what it doesn’t have is a service station.
“For approximately four years now, Monbulk has been without a service station.
“This means residents and business have to seek fuel from outside of the town, wasting valuable time in the process.”
Cr Callanan said the reports had been peer reviewed, with no evidence to suggest traffic flow higher than any other commercial or industrial operation.
He also played down suggestions of the potential for increased crashes near the site, due to higher traffic flows.
Cr Noel Cliff also joined in the sentiment, noting many surrounding towns were without service stations, yet Monbulk is still considered a hub.
Meanwhile, Richard Licciardi from the Monbulk and District Community Opportunities Working Group (MADCOW), and Robert Milner from 10 Consulting Group, spoke on behalf of the applicants.
Mr Licciardi said there was community support for the service.
“On behalf of the community, we (MADCOW) believe it is the overwhelming need for the community to have a service station,” he said.
He said the service station needed to be outside of the main street and the proposed site was the best option available.
