Watkins Group’s Chinchilla service station on Warrego Highway approved in planning and environment court

A controversial service station west of Toowoomba will cost an extra $1m to build according to the developer, after he won his appeal against the council’s decision in court.

The developer of a controversial 24-hour service station in a Darling Downs town says his battles with the local council both in and out of court have blown out the costs of the project by about $1m.

Watkins Group’s Philip Watkins said he was happy to see the planning and environment court uphold his appeal against the Western Downs Regional Council’s decision to reject his proposed servo on the Warrego Highway in Chinchilla.

It comes 18 months after the councillors voted unanimously against the proposal at a special meeting in January last year.

The decision came after council expressed concerns around its proximity to residential properties, its location within a major centre zone and the fact it would operate 24 hours a day.

An approved Chinchilla service station. Pic: Watkins Group

It argued the proposal conflicted with seven aspects of the council’s planning scheme.

Mr Watkins, who had already spent up to $450,000 on the land and planning process prior to heading to court, said the cost of construction materials and labour had dramatically increased since it was first proposed in 2020.

“It feels really good, but my service station has gone up $1m because we’re building it this year and not two years ago,” he said.

“That’s due to construction materials costs, like steel and concrete, going up.

“What was once a very good commercial income is now going to be a bit trying.

“I’m (already) out of pocket several hundred thousands of dollars and the cost to build it has gone up, it was going to cost $3m and now it’s going to cost $4m.

“If I talk to contractors and the build becomes $5m, I don’t know what we’re going to do.

“In simple terms, it’s a disgrace.”

Mr Watkins said the servo would inject up to $700,000 a year into the Chinchilla economy by employing more than a dozen residents.

“We’re expecting to employ between 12 and 14 — the wages will be $650,000 to $700,000 a year, so benefits for Chinchilla are real,” he said.

The Western Downs Regional Council spokesman confirmed an approval had been granted by the court.

Council can confirm that the matter of a service station development has been subject to an appeal to the planning courtwhich resulted in a mediated process and a negotiated outcome between parties," he said.

Council's priority is to work with our community and with developers to support and enable suitable and sustainable developments for our region based on the principles of our agreed planning scheme.