Gold Coast housewife won’t be taken for fuel

A GOLD Coast housewife has won a David-and-Goliath battle with a fuel company, foiling plans for a 24-hour service station next door to her family’s beloved beach shack.

Edwina Roberts outside court yesterday. Picture: Dan Peled/AAP

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A GOLD Coast housewife has won a David-and-Goliath battle against fuel behemoth United Petroleum, thwarting the company’s bid to build a 24-hour service station next door to her family’s beloved beach shack.

Edwina Roberts tearfully celebrated the end of her three-year battle to stop the fuel giant setting up in her residential Mermaid Beach street, saying it had been a long and stressful process.

“I’m just so shocked and relieved for the community and for our family because I really had no idea which way this was going to go,” Mrs Roberts said outside court yesterday.

“I would encourage anyone who believes in what they’re fighting for to continue to do it.

“It’s so important to fight for what you believe in.”

Mrs Roberts and her neighbours successfully campaigned the Gold Coast City Council to reject the company’s application for a change of use for the medium density residential land in 2016.

Edwina and Shaun Roberts with their sons Finn, 11, (left) and Ryan, 9 celebrating their court win stopping a petrol company opening a petrol station next to their Mermaid Beach beach shack. Picture: Nigel Hallett

But the mum-of-two was then dragged into a courtroom showdown along with the council after United Petroleum appealed the decision in the Planning and Environment Court.

After a five day hearing last year, Judge Michael Rackemann yesterday dismissed the appeal taking into account planning schemes and the impact of the development on nearby residents.

Mrs Roberts’ beach shack has been in her family for almost 60 years and she said she would have been devastated if United Petroleum had been allowed to build next door.

“We all know what it smells like to stand near a petrol station so with those pumps only a few metres from my home it was not going to be practical,” she said.

“My main concerns were the health risks and then you’ve got the lighting and noise, the smell, contamination, traffic and crime.”

Mrs Roberts said she couldn’t wait to celebrate with her neighbours.

“Tonight I’ll be emailing the residents and making phone calls so they can all finally rest easy,” she said.

“I couldn’t have done it without the Gold Coast council who originally knocked back United’s application; I made it this far because they understood the impact on residents.”