State land option for developer. Fear over servos

Andrew Mathieson
GEELONG’S council has refused a developer’s application to buy council-owned land for a service station on Lovely Banks’ Plantation Road.
But council now fears the State Govern-ment will sell part of its land on Matthews Road for the developer to build another station.
Councillors this week rejected plans from Bredix, acting on behalf of BP, for the council land.
Council ruled the site was “inappropriate” for a service station.
Lovely Banks residents have protested the proposed stations over noise, signage and traffic concerns.
Ward councillor Tony Ansett hoped to work with the Department of Sustainability and Environment to stop the stations.
“I don’t know whether or not this move (not selling Plantation Road) stymies them because they wanted two – BP wanted one each side,” he said.
Bredix applied for planning permits for the development of service centres on north and south-bound lanes of Geelong’s bypass.
The company had approached council to purchase part of its drainage and plantation reserves adjacent to the development site.
The plan was to divert Plantation Road to connect with Matthews Road to the north and gain access to the bypass.
Bredix has already approached Depart-ment of Sustainability and Environment to sell part of Matthews Road to the north of Plantation Road.
But councillors believed refusing the application had strengthened their position, citing it would be difficult to facilitate service centres without the City-owned land.
Council knocked back three proposals for service centres at Lovely Banks last month over a range of environmental considerations.
Lovely Banks Objection Committee to the Service Centre chairman Chris Matsarakis said the group would again oppose any service station proposals.
“The service centres going up full stop are a concern to the residents,” he said.