Toowoomba council to assess planned service station with food tenancies in Meringandan West
A new commercial precinct with a service station, car wash and food outlets could be coming to a fast-growing part of the Toowoomba region.
Development
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A fast-growing suburb north of Toowoomba could be getting a new service station, car wash and drive-through eateries after plans were lodged with the council.
Highfields developers Jeremy and Renae McNamara have submitted a new development application to turn an 8000 sqm site in Meringandan West into a massive servo, including an automated car wash and two food tenancies.
According to the report by Precinct Urban Planning’s Andrew Bullen, the precinct on the corner of Meringandan Shirley Road and Goombungee Meringandan Road represents stage one of the Meringandan West Local Centre that was approved last year.
“The service station is directly adjoined to the south by one of the two food and drink outlets having a GFA of 282 sqm and including a drive-through facility with queuing spaces for up to 13 vehicles,” the report said.
“The outlet will also provide internal kitchen, food preparation, servery and customer dining areas.
“The second food and drink outlet will occupy a separate stand-alone building adjacent to the site’s primary road frontage, have a GFA of 225 sqm and be serviced by a drive-through facility with queuing spaces for up to 10 vehicles.
“A car wash facility comprising two separate, but operationally integrated buildings is proposed adjacent to the northern secondary road frontage of Goombungee – Meringandan Road.”
The report estimates about 30 jobs would be supported during the precinct’s operation, which would be from 5am to 10pm seven days a week.
The economic needs assessment by Location IQ, which was also attached to the application, estimated the development would deliver sales of more than $5m per year if opened by 2026/27.
It also argued the project would deliver significant benefits to the communities of Meringandan, Meringandan West and Kleinton.
“It is concluded that the combination of the substantial positive economic impacts serves to more than offset the minimal trading impacts that could be anticipated for a small number of existing and proposed developments in the region,” the report said.
Reports were also submitted relating to noise impacts, engineering, stormwater management and traffic impacts.
The McNamaras also have plans to create a new childcare centre just south of the proposed service station, having lodged an application back in 2022.
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