MAYOR KATIE Milne has announced the Kings Forest service station has been approved by the New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment with conditions
Although yet to be confirmed, it is believed the service station not be allowed to remain open 24 hours and will instead close at 10pm.
Councillors voted not to join in the current legal proceedings to defend their decision to refuse the development application at an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday, January 24.
The application has previously been refused by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and was the subject of an appeal by the proponent in the Land and Environment Court.
The plans proposed to change the use of the rural supplies building at the site to a service station with a car and dog wash and food and drink outlets, for operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
In their previous decision to refuse the service station in April 2016 a Department of Planning and Environment spokesperson said the modification request has been assessed on its merits.
“The modification request was published on the Department’s website and was referred to relevant Government agencies in November 2015. Nearby landowners were also notified.
“There were 10 public objections received by the Department and three submissions of advice received from Government agencies.
“The key issues raised during consultation included potential impacts on state significant farmland and wetlands, water quality, traffic, noise, air quality, potential pollution of service station fuel on soil and groundwater, potential impacts on koalas and justification for an additional service station in the area.
“In its assessment, the Department concluded the modification request would pose risks to the adjacent State significant farmland.
“It was also considered inconsistent with the rural character of the area and would potentially undermine the ongoing protection of the nearby wetlands.
“The Department closely considered these issues in its assessment and decided the proposed changes were significant and considerably different to the project approval.
“Consultation with the community and stakeholders is enshrined into the process for assessing projects like these and the Department has addressed the issues raised deciding to refuse the request.”
