Townsville council has decided whether Brisbane developers will be able to build a 7-Eleven servo and child care centre in Kirwan. Vote in our poll.
A plan to develop a 7-Eleven service station, convenience store and child care centre opposite Kirwan State High School has been given the thumbs down by Townsville councillors.
Though the recommendation from planning staff was to approve it, councillors voted 7-1 against when they met to decide the application this week.
They were concerned about parking and traffic impacts, particularly given its location near homes and opposite one of Queensland’s biggest schools, as well as the potential for complaints about odours and noise from nearby residents.
“I believe it’s an inappropriate use for a medium residential zone,” planning chair and deputy mayor Mark Molachino said.
Brisbane company Cylinder Cove, led by developers Lachlan Grantley and Robert Dodd, had applied for a material change of use and reconfiguring of a site at 59-63 Thuringowa Dr to undertake the development.
The proposal includes a single-storey service station and 7-Eleven store on the
corner of Thuringowa Dr and Hudson St and a single-storey child care centre for 94 children on the corner of Hudson St and Lanark St.
The proposal attracted one objection on grounds including concern about anti-social behaviour associated with increased pedestrian activity and increased traffic congestion.
The council previously deferred a decision on the application at its August meeting, calling for
further traffic investigations and a traffic count during busy school times.
While planning staff submitted the development would not have undue impacts on roads or the school, Mayor Jenny Hill said she was disappointed the information they wanted on traffic and parking had not been provided.
Local councillor Russ Cook said he was concerned about traffic and parking impacts and about the potential for complaints about odours and noise from nearby residents.
Only Cr Fran O’Callaghan voted for the proposal, while three councillors were absent from the meeting on leave.
The applicants will have a period, usually 20 business days, to decide whether to challenge the council decision in court or go back to the drawing board.
Extracted from Townsville Bulletin