By NOEL MURPHY
PORTARLINGTON’S long-awaited service station and convenience-store complex is set to start building in the new year.
Developer John Lascaris’ complex – at the corner of Tower Road and Queenscliff-Portarlington Road – will also include a car wash, four showrooms and 22 warehouse units.
The service station and car wash would be operated by United Petroleum, he told the Independent.
Mr Lascaris said he hoped construction would start next January 2014 and be completed by November or December.
The petrol station will be the first to operate at Portarlington since Eden’s Garage closed in 2010.
The $9 million project, set on a 1.2-hectare site, will feature six fuel pumps and four car wash bays. Its showrooms and warehouse units will be incorporated in three adjoining blocks in a surrounding L-shape.
Mr Lascaris is owner, developer and designer of the project. He said he had appointed Stockdale and Leggo, GC Downard and NH Abbey Real estate to lease the showroom warehouses and sell the other 22 warehouse units.
“I’ve got 22 for sale ranging in size from 90sqm to 300sqm in three sizes,” he said.
“They’re going to attract tradesmen in the area who want to park their ute and materials and tools in a professional set-up, maybe small businessmen, maybe a cabinet-maker or someone who does a bit of welding.
“They might suit someone living close by for storage, holiday-makers might take up the opportunity, maybe local business might want additional storage.”
Mr Lascaris said he held a great confidence in Portarlington.
“People have been pushing for years for a petrol station at Portarlington,” he said.
“At the moment, they have to drive to Drysdale or Leopold. And I think the warehouses will really help the area.”
