Council refuses plan for service station in Redland Bay

Officers recommended refusing the 24-hour service station claiming it was out of line with the Planning Scheme and the area’s residential zoning.

The report also claimed a servo would be inefficient use of the land, which is next door to the former Moore’s Garage site, due to be developed as shops and restaurants.

The report, tabled at the meeting, claimed the service station would store 42,000 l of fuel, have parking for 13 cars and need a 2m-high acoustic fence.

Redland Bay residents whose homes abut the proposed service station site, let out a sigh of relief after the council refusal and claimed it was a victory for the community.

Mum Rebecca Heard said she was not surprised the council refused the development after 378 people signed a petition against the plans.

“It was such a ridiculous idea that you could just whack a service station in the middle of all of these homes,” she said.

“It’s inevitable that something will go there but it has to be a commonsense approach for a residential area.”

Under the Service Station Code service stations are only allowed in Major Centre Zones or Commercial/General Industry Zones.

Redland Bay councillor Mark Edwards said there nearby sites, not in residential areas, better suited to a service station.

Land for sale at 2-6 School of Arts Road, Redland Bay, is zoned for a Local Centre even though a 2009 planning application for shops and showrooms was refused.

Other land up for sale at 816-842 German Church Road, Redland Bay, is also zoned for commercial development.

Cr Edwards said those two blocks had state road access and were near the Redland Bay Business Centre.

However, he said it was likely prospective developers of either block would have to ensure safe access on to and off Cleveland Redland Bay Road.

He said the developer of the School of Arts Road block may also have to build a new road to exit on to Cleveland-Redland Bay Road.