Once again: the case against the service station

When the Drysdale & Clifton Springs Community Association Inc. (DCSCA) issued its Media Release concerning support by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) for a third service station in Drysdale, it attached a summary (below) of its opposition to the proposed service station.

Site of the proposed service station, from Jetty Rd. roundabout looking north

Why did DCSCA oppose a Service Station at this location?

During the process DCSCA progressively formed the view that: -

1.     The City of Greater Geelong's (CoGG) notification process did not notify the community adequately, so the vast majority of residents remained unaware of the proposal, hence denying them the opportunity to comment.

2.     The proposal is inappropriate in a Rural Living Zone and contrary to CoGG's own Structure Plan for Drysdale & Clifton Springs.

3.     It would spoil the rural ambience of the entry into the Drysdale & Clifton Springs township.

4.     It would increase congestion on a major traffic hub that is vital to the north Bellarine and is congested significantly already.

5.     There were ingress/egress traffic safety issues as, at busy times, there would be queues of traffic and reduced visibility in the region of the crest of hill.

6.     It would seriously compromise the safety of cyclists. This was of major concern to DCSCA as the proposed service station is located on the Principal Bicycle Network (PBN) and is on a commuter route to three nearby schools.

7.     The Bellarine would suffer traffic disruption for months on end during the construction phase.

8.     It was inappropriate so close to a private dam.

Subsequent to a front-page newspaper item in October 2014, DCSCA formed the further views that: -

1.     Most people had been unaware of the proposal and now there was significant opposition within the community.

2.     There were legitimate planning concerns. A critical examination of the State and Local Planning Policy Frameworks showed that the proposal did not comply with several clauses.

3.     There is a classified 200 metre “sensitive zone” around underground petroleum storage systems (UPSSs). The nearby private dam is part of a designated watercourse (Scarborough Creek) and is only about 70 m away from where UPSSs will be installed. DCSCA considered that this had serious implication with respect to the State Environment Protection Policy (Groundwaters of Victoria).

4.     The local community wanted an independent review by VCAT and considered that DCSCA was the appropriate body to lodge such an application.

The DCSCA Committee,  April 2015.