Controversial service station approved Harlaxton by Toowoomba Regional Council at special meeting despite opposition

The Toowoomba Regional Council has approved a controversial service station proposal that is less than 700m away from an existing fuel stop.

Concept art for a planned service station on North St in Harlaxton.

A busy Toowoomba suburb looks likely to get yet another service station, after the council approved a controversial plan this week despite opposition from residents.

Councillors voted at a special meeting on Tuesday afternoon to give the go-ahead for an eight-bowser 24-hour servo on North St in Harlaxton by applicant Pacific Fuels Pty Ltd.

The planned light and heavy vehicle service station, which would be built over two stages and eventually feature a convenience shop, is less than 700m from an existing BP fuel stop on the intersection of Ruthven and North Sts.

Another servo proposal has already been approved by the council for the corner of Mort and North Sts, which just 400m away.

The plan requires the removal of two native trees to allow for entry and exit onto the site, which was one of the many issues neighbour Sharon Swan had while speaking against the development.

“Those trees are magnificent and they should not be removed,” she said while addressing the councillors at the meeting.

“We do respect innovation and change, but do we really need this?

“If word is correct, there is a service station that’s supposed to be going on the corner of North and Mort St.

“Are we becoming the lazy city? We are too afraid to drive more than 700m to a service station?”

TRC planner Shokhida Safarova recommended the servo be approved, saying it met the assessment benchmarks of the planning scheme for the zoning the proposal was in.

“It is considered that the issues raised have been addressed by the applicant and where applicable, conditions can be imposed to ensure that the impacts of the development can be managed to meet the relevant requirements of the assessment benchmarks,” she said.

Crs Carol Taylor and Rebecca Vonhoff voted against the proposal, with the former concerned about the design allowing for vehicles to turn right into the site from North St.

“If there’s a heavy vehicle and a car (colliding), there’s a loser (so) I cannot support a right-turn in going from the westbound lane,” she said.