Panel approves 24-hour service station for Baldivis

A second 24-hour service station will be built in Baldivis after the Metro South-West Joint Development Assessment Panel approved a Nairn Drive development.

After nearly two hours of debate last Friday, the five-person JDAP approved the Puma Energy service station and convenience store for Lot 297 (No.67) Nairn Drive despite objections from nearby residents and the City of Rockingham’s two panel members. The site was originally planned in 2006 to host a neighbourhood centre but was revised in July to a smaller local centre after a proposed IGA supermarket, which gained approval in 2010, was never built.

Scott Vincent from Planning Solutions said it was unreasonable for the City to impose “12-year-old standards” on the proposal. “The City’s own plan favours small-scale stores over supermarkets ... changing to a local centre from a neighbourhood centre allows this smaller-scale development,” he said.

Cr Chris Elliott said the development failed to comply with City requirements to provide a service and enhance the locality and he believed it did not meet the requirements for a small-scale convenience/retail store.

He pointed out the development did not meet the Environmental Protection Authority’s requirement for a 200m buffer between service stations and residences; there are homes less than 30m from the site.

However, the panel voted 3-2 against the recommendation to refuse the development and an alternative motion put forward by JDAP member Brian Curtis to support the proposal with conditions imposed regarding the appearance, noise and access issues to Nairn Dve was approved 4-1.

Cr Deb Hamblin voted against the motion.