Aussie World Garage’s Steve Amos vows to fight developer’s plans for new service station

The owner of one the Sunshine Coast’s last independent service stations has vowed to continue the battle against an approved development he claims would threaten his business of more than 20 years.

The Aussie World Garage owner, Steve Amos, is fighting against another servo development proposal. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The owner behind one of the Sunshine Coast’s last independent service stations has vowed to continue the fight against an approved development he claims would threaten his business of more than 20 years.

Aussie World Garage owner, Steve Amos, has successfully run one of the last independent service stations on the Sunshine Coast for the past 23 years, but he fears a development application for a new service station could destroy his local customer base.

Plans for a new service station, food and drink store and hardware warehouse were submitted to the Sunshine Coast Council by the developer Palmview Property Pty Ltd in 2022.

Earlier this year the council ultimately rejected the developer’s warehouse plans but approved the proposed service station.

According to the planning report the development would occupy the 1.46 hectare site at 21 Pignata Rd, Palmview.

Mr Amos, who has submitted an appeal to the decision with the Planning and Environment Court, said the development would threaten his longstanding business and go against local planning codes.

The Aussie World Garage. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“As soon as you have two service stations within close proximity to each other, one will always impact the other, as the only independent service station left on the coast we do our best to provide competitive pricing and a unique service for the area,” Mr Amos said.

“That would obviously be knocked around quite a bit with the additional service station.”

According to the appeal documents the rural zoning of the site means there are already an adequate number of service stations within the 15km radius.

Mr Amos said the proposed site for the service station development was 400m away from the Aussie World Garage.

“We really are a local neighbourhood service station that happens to be located on some main arteries and is easily accessible, so we have a large local following,” Mr Amos said.

“Would we be able to maintain the service station we have now if we had competition right within our catchment area?”

The Aussie World Garage has been independently owned for more than 20 years. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Mr Amos said while he appreciated the fast-growing population of the region, and the need for new developments, the council must act to protect the character of suburbs like Palmview and the local businesses.

“The council needs to maintain the character of the Sunshine Coast while juggling the massive urban growth, so I know it is a difficult job,” Mr Amos said.

“This development was initially much larger, but council have already knocked back some of that.”

Originally published as Aussie World Garage’s Steve Amos vows to fight developer’s plans for new service station