Possum Paradise site developers appeal council rejection of servo, cafe plan

The Fraser Coast council’s decision to reject plans for a new service station and drive-through cafe at an old nursery site is being appealed by the project’s developers.

Planning documents show the site layout at the proposed service station and food outlet on the corner of Boundary Rd and Senorita Parade.

The Fraser Coast council’s decision to reject plans for a new service station and drive-through coffee shop on the site of landscape supplier Possum Paradise in Urangan will be appealed.

The site which fronts Hervey Bay’s second busiest east-west corridor, Boundary Rd, but also connects to low-density suburban street, Senorita Pde, is owned by Ray White Hervey Bay boss Glen Fallon and lawyer Don Gayler.

The owners want to redevelop the site, which once housed the popular Possum Paradise nursery and onsite cafe, to include a service station and drive-through eatery.

However, councillors, including Mayor George Seymour and division 7 Councillor John Weiland, voted against the plans 9-2 after it was argued the proposal did not meet “several planning scheme benchmarks” nor did it respect the residential area it surrounded.

In the wake of the decision, the developers will take the council to the Planning and Environment Court.

An aerial image showing the impact on properties within 50 metres of the Possum Paradise site.

According to the court documents lodged this month, the grounds of appeal include the owners’ belief that the plans comply with the council’s assessment benchmarks and there are “matters that favour approval of the development application” while the rejection did not identify any of those relevant matters.

The plans were previously recommended for approval by the council’s planning officers who noted that “despite conflict with some aspects of the low-density residential code, the proposal has planning merit with regards to higher order provisions of the planning scheme”.

“Due to the location, site characteristics and design of the proposal, the proposed commercial uses would afford relatively good separation and buffering from surrounding residential uses,” the recommendation to councillors read.

However, the application was met with some public pushback and multiple residents who lived in the area were present in the council chambers on the day of the decision.

In leading the “no” vote at the council’s March meeting, Mr Weiland also urged his colleagues to “be fearless” because he believed his motion against the project outlined “clear and reasonable grounds for refusal”.

Possum Paradise is asking that the appeal be allowed, the original decision set aside, the application approved, and the council pays for the cost of the appeal.

A Fraser Coast council spokeswoman said the council was “aware” of the appeal.

“Council respects the democratic right of others to lodge an appeal against Council’s decision,” she said.

“As Council has been named as a party to the appeal and the matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to provide further comment at this time.”