TWO Bathurst councillors, alongside many Western Advocate readers, have come out in support of a proposed new service station at Kelso.
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A development application (DA) before Bathurst Regional Council is for a 7-Eleven service station at the Bill Dando Finer Cars site on the corner of the Great Western Highway and Boyd Street.
The proposed eight-pump service station would open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and would have a total underground storage capacity of 180,000 litres of fuel.
Councillor Michael Coote said with recent job losses at EDI Downer and Simplot, the creation of a new business in Bathurst is a positive.
“It’s good to have new businesses in town,” he said.
He said the addition of a new service station on the highway heading east would also benefit residents in Kelso.
“If you’re coming out of Kelso there’s no service station on that side of the road; I think we need it,” he said.
“If the traffic committee are happy with it [the development application], it’s new business to town.”
Councillor Ian North said it is good that businesses are looking at establishing in Bathurst and said it will be a boost for the economy.
He also addressed concerns from Kelso resident Nicholas Bullock, who on Wednesday cited increased traffic near Kelso Public School and the many existing service stations as the reasons behind his submission of objection to council.
“You’ve got a massive amount of traffic that comes through – we’re the gateway to the Central West. I don’t think it’ll generate any extra traffic,” Cr North said.
“I’ve seen plenty of service stations near schools and I’ve never seen a problem ... it’s like anything, there’s stringent guidelines in place for reasons.”
But Cr North also welcomed discussion on the DA.
“It’s not a bad idea to have a public forum ... I’d prefer people to make comment, it makes it a lot easier to make a decision,” he said.
While many Advocate readers took to Facebook to share their support of the new service station, some did have concerns.
Terrielee Seaman posted that she was “not a fan” of the proposal and lives “within metres” of the site.
“I just don’t see the need for it to be there when there is so many other places in town where they could put it,” she posted.
“Building a 7-Eleven won’t increase the amount of traffic one iota. The exact same number of cars will pass that intersection daily, regardless of what business occupies the site,” Terry Nicholson posted.
