Station fight ignites

THE Shire of Yarra Ranges is seeking legal advice after Montrose residents complained about plans to operate a 24hour petrol station.
Nearby residents have questioned the council’s consultation process, labelling it as “inappropriate”.
Objector, Ken Fung, said the service station on Mt Dandenong Tourist Road was in a residential zone, but council had approved an application to extend the business operating hours.
Mr Fung said the service station was next to the Beatrice Retirement Village. He said the service station hours had always been from 8am to 8pm. However, the proposed expansion of the station and extension of the trading hours appear to have been approved with little notice.
Mr Fung said nearby residents were not privy to the objection process and were not notified of the proposed changes to the service station. He said that the proposal also included a 24hour car wash.
Council’s director of planning, building and health, James AmourReid, said the application to extend the service station hours and the proposed car wash was advertised.
He said nearby residents affected by the application were notified by mail and a sign was placed at the site to inform local residents.
Mr AmourReid said only three objections were received by the council and therefore a consultation meeting was not required and the application was approved.
Council policy is that there has to be more than five objections before a community consultation meeting is arranged. Mr AmourReid assured the residents that the council would seek legal advice on the proposed service station extension before further discussions.