Brisbane Prestige Property Developments appeals West Mackay servo rejection

A Brisbane development company is pushing to build a service station in West Mackay after the council rejected the proposal on the back of hundreds of objection letters. LATEST

A Brisbane development company has filed an appeal for a service station on Nebo Road, which council rejected after receiving hundreds of objection letters from residents.

A developer has filed an appeal after Mackay Regional Council rejected a bid to build another service station on Nebo Road.

Brisbane Prestige Property Developments’ notice of appeal states “there is a need” for the proposed West Mackay servo on the Lagoon St intersection.

This is despite the council receiving over 260 submissions from the public, largely objection letters, that resulted in the proposal’s rejection on May 24.

“The proposed development would improve the wellbeing of local residents by the provision of a service station to respond to their day-to-day needs,” the notice states.

“The subject site is prominent, and adjoins two higher-order roads, making it very well suited for a service station.”

Proposal plans for a new Bruce Highway service station built on 214, 216 Nebo Road and 2 Lagoon Street, West Mackay. Photo: Contributed

The notice was filed on June 14 care of Drakos & Company Solicitors.

West Mackay resident Gerry Muscat led a campaign against the service station, telling this publication in February he was “disgusted” by the proposal.

Mr Muscat, whose property backs onto three houses at 214, 216 Nebo Road and 2 Lagoon Street slated for demolition if approved, was among a chorus of critics unhappy to see houses destroyed during a housing crisis.

He said when he first found out, he thought the company behind the proposed development would “never prove” the need for what would be the 20th fuel stop in just six kilometres.

West Mackay resident Gerard Muscat started an objection petition to a proposed servo on Lagoon St and Nebo Rd. Photo: Zoe Devenport

When first proposed, it was the fourth application for a new Mackay service station in the past 12 months.

In their objection letters to council, Mr Muscat and other West Mackay residents wrote the Lagoon St intersection was dangerous enough without a servo.

Others had serious concerns about the service station’s nearness to the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens and the possibility of petrol or other pollutants harming wildlife.

Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens

Lagoon St resident, Linda Grima, claimed there would be “significant environmental impacts (if) there’s going to be lights on all night (for) a lot of birdlife at the gardens”.

“How many more do we need?”

The notice of appeal states the servo application was rejected because it could not demonstrate itself “small scale and low intensity, required to serve the needs of the local area, and consistent with the amenity and character of the surrounding urban area”.

The publication reached out to Mackay Regional Council for comment on the appeal.