UPDATE: Wyndham’s planning committee has just voted to support the redevelopment of the busy APCO service station at 176-178 Morris Road, Hoppers Crossing. This significant upgrade, however, comes with a crucial stipulation aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in the area.
Earlier today, the committee approved plans to demolish and rebuild the service station, which has been operational since 1986. The revamped site will feature a convenience store, café, kitchen, and customer seating area. But local residents have raised concerns, leading to a petition against the expansion due to expected increases in traffic.
The planning permit application will be presented to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in December. The council’s backing for the proposal is conditional: vehicle queuing must be contained on-site to prevent overflow onto the main road.
Peter Anderson, the applicant, voiced strong objections during the council meeting. He expressed concerns that enforcing on-site queuing could necessitate the removal of several fuel bowsers. “It is problematic because people want fuel at competitive prices,” he stated. “You are asking me to accept something that could lead to removing my petrol pumps, and I will challenge this at VCAT.”
Council members acknowledged the challenges while emphasizing community responsibility. Councillor Shannon McGuire noted, “Ultimately, I am happy that there is that protection in place… the business owner has a responsibility to the community to not make this traffic worse.”
Meanwhile, Councillor Larry Zhao highlighted the potential benefits of the redevelopment. He stated, “I recognise that there are still some people who are unhappy about this proposal, but I believe it is a vast improvement on what is currently in place.”
As this situation develops, affected residents and commuters are urged to stay informed about the upcoming VCAT hearing and the continued discussions surrounding the petrol station’s future. WATCH THIS SPACE for further updates as the community weighs the potential impacts of this redevelopment.
