New service station approved amid highway safety concerns

By Tertia Butcher - March 6, 2024

Concern was raised at Council last week over safety issues if a Development Application for a service station on the Sturt Highway was approved.

“This proposed development is just a stupid idea. It’s dangerous,” one of the objectors, Judy Jarratt told Council.

Mrs Jarratt, who lives next to the proposed service station between Russell and Moama Streets in South Hay, said she has witnessed near misses due to the speed vehicles travel past her house.

“Drivers don’t slow down enough, especially coming into what will be a bottle neck of vehicles slowing – trucks turning, grey nomads deciding which way they’re going, locals just wanting to grab some fuel and semis wanting to get on their way.

“I’ve painted a picture. Now for the facts.

“There are 1000 plus vehicles as an average that pass-through Hay daily. During public holidays this number is far, far greater.

“Roughly half of those are heavy vehicles.

“Semi-trailers and road trains are getting bigger and they often travel in twos and threes. That’s upward of 500 semi-trailers per day.

“The problem now is the narrow bridge and all of the requested lanes forming into just two. Right at a bridge.

“This will be an accident waiting to happen. We have 33 years of witnessing this area of highway.

“We have legitimate fears for all road users’ safety, and also concerns for our natural environment in the development of this site as a fuel station with a natural waterway in a known flood area.”

“It’s not a residential block, it’s an industrial block,” General Manager, David Webb told Council.

“The application was referred to several agencies. All the conditions from external departments have been included in the Conditions of Approval.

“Competition (to existing service stations in South Hay) is not used as a criterion during development assessment.”

“Yes, it has issues with traffic and environmental issues,” Executive Manager Planning and Compliance, Jack Terblanche told the meeting.

“You’ve got different rules to a residential zone with flooding.

“There have been numerous concerns raised about the traffic impact of the development due to the proximity of the bridge and the speed limit change.

“This has, however, been resolved with Transport for NSW. There are no negative social impacts envisaged.

“The proposed development can have a significant economic effect on the area.

“The proposed development will fill in a vacant and residential site, which can have a positive economic impact on the precinct.

“The proposed development will be competition to other similar developments. The economic pressures placed on other businesses due to increased competition are not issues to be considered in the assessment.

“It is an industrial zone. To be politically correct, an employment zone, and on the basis of that I recommend the application be approved.”

Councillors voted five to three in favour of approving the development application with conditions.

Clrs Paul Porter, Peter Handford and Geoff Chapman voted against the proposal.

The application has been before Council for a number of years while the developers continued to work on improving the safety of the site and address possible flooding issues.

The proposal is for a 450 square metre floor area including retail display, sales and storage areas, customer amenities and truckdrivers’ lounge, courtyard and shower facilities.

Three underground fuel storage tanks of 250,000 litres capacity will cater for six fuelling positions for small-medium vehicles and two high-flow diesel fuel dispensers.

The service station will operate 24 hours/day and employ up to four full-time staff.