‘This insidious OTR will come along, dominate space’: Vocal opposition at Burnside Council to planned servo
OPPOSITION to a plan to build a big new 24-hour On The Run in Adelaide’s east has produced one of the biggest public turnouts at a council meeting with people spilling from the public gallery into the halls.
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ABOUT 80 people packed the public gallery during last night’s Burnside Council meeting in protest against a $3 million On The Run service station planned for Kensington Park.
The crowd — many waving placards reading “just say no” — was there to listen to debate on Peregrine Corporation’s plan for the station on the corner of Kensington Rd and May Tce.
Christopher Shakes, who organised a protest meeting of more than 200 people in Kensington Park last week, told last night’s crowd the 24-hour service station was a “serious risk to the safety and wellbeing of residents, road users and local businesses”.
May Tce resident Annalise Menzel said she lived in the area because the “little village mentality” had made it safe and secure.
When she learnt of the planned service station, “the feeling I had of peace and security in our neighbourhood disappeared”.
The plans for the On The Run will be assessed by the State Government’s Development Assessment Commission (DAC), bypassing Burnside Council’s planning processes.
The council, which owns the nearby Regal Theatre, also voiced strong opposition to the plan, with councillors describing it as “revolting” and “hideous”.
“It destroys communities,” Cr Di Wilkins told the meeting.
“This insidious OTR will come along … and dominate this space.”
Councillors repeatedly thanked the public for attending the meeting.
Burnside chief executive Paul Deb later posted on social media the council was “strongly opposed” to the service station.
He called on residents to support the council by “lobbying government” against the plans.
The council will lodge a submission with the DAC outlining its concerns with the plans, including traffic issues, increased pollution and the impact on the area’s amenity.
