The item was moved by Cr Deirdre Peebles, seconded by Cr Kiwa Fisher and carried unanimously by the remaining councillors. 

Cr Lorna Driscoll, who owns a store with a petrol bowser 300 metres north of the proposed development, declared an interest as the owner of a competing business and left the Chamber taking no part in discussion or voting.

Rana and Singh Management Pty Limited lodged its development application for a 24-hour service station with Council in March 2015. 

The development site has an area of 1,088 square metres, bounded by Macqueen Street (New England Highway), Short Street, Bedford Street and the Main North Rail Line.

The proposal is seeking to demolish the existing service station and construct a new one containing a shop and customer service area; amenities, a canopy above the bowsers, BP identification logos on the north, south and west of the block and one BP identification logo on the west side of the new building.

Surrounding properties were notified between March 19 and April 2, with a newspaper ad placed on April 2, and two submissions were received during the public comment period.

But Council noted potential environmental and residential issues relating to development on the site, among them: asbestos hazards during demolition; noise; vibrations causing damage during construction; stormwater run-off; land and water pollution; trading hours; lighting from signage; increased traffic movement; andpotential for increased crime.

Council officers and NSW Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) also had concerns about the proposed heavy vehicle access at the Macqueen Street site.

The application was subsequently amended to remove the heavy vehicle fuelling area at the rear of the lot and re-advertised in October.

No new submissions were received.

The amended development application was referred to Council’s Strategic Assets Manager and Council’s Water and Waste section.