Raglan Service Centre approved for Bruce Highway by Gladstone Regional Council

After a lengthy application process, construction of a service station on the Bruce Highway connecting Rockhampton and Gladstone will soon be underway. See why council approved the development.

A proposed service station connecting Rockhampton and Gladstone has finally secured council approval despite early safety concerns.

The Raglan Service Centre, located on the Bruce Highway, has been approved and will soon begin construction after satisfying a safety requirement to prevent vehicles turning right across oncoming traffic to enter the station.

The service station, equipped with four vehicle bowsers, two truck bowsers, a food and drink retailer, truckers lounge, and rest rooms, will cater to all.

Concept designs for the approved Raglan Service Centre. Picture: Gladstone Regional Council

After a lengthy development application process, the site was approved by Gladstone Regional Council just one month before its deadline.

Because the site is located on a state-controlled road, the application was referred to the state’s planning department, State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) for safety approval.

SARA requested revised plans in November after raising concerns about vehicles turning right into the service station, outlining that the unbroken double-line would be insufficient, as is often the case on regional and remote roads.

It is understood Gladstone Regional Council did not have concerns about the right-hand turn, however, deemed it necessary for developer BGT Properties No. 1 Pty Ltd to secure SARA’s approval.

Renders of the Raglan Service Centre by ThomsonAdsett. Picture: Gladstone Regional Council

The development is expected to increase traffic along the stretch of road by 74 total peak trips each peak hour.

Previously, readers expressed concerns about the need for the development, stating there was an oversupply of service stations in the area and the one at Ambrose closed years ago.

A Gladstone-based company purchased the site in 2012 for $300,000.

Developers, BGT Properties have previously worked on retirement villages and residential estates in New Zealand and townhouses in Brisbane.

Originally published as Raglan Service Centre approved for Bruce Highway by Gladstone Regional Council