Plans are underway to build a 24-hour highway service station on Gunnedah’s northern approach.
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The development includes a service station, convenience store, restaurant and parking opposite the saleyards at the corner of Stockman Close and Kamilaroi Highway.
It’s a win for truckies and travellers but not everybody is happy about the new business.
Mel Bieman and her family live within a few hundred metres of the site but not once have have been consulted about the development. She only learned of the plans through her neighbour.
The mother of three kids is worried about increased traffic around her peaceful cul-de-sac and the heightened risk her kids, all aged under 10, would face catching the school bus. She even penned a letter to council a few months ago outlining her concerns.
The transport impact assessment indicates the business would add an extra 40 vehicles per hour to local traffic during peak times. To help mitigate noise pollution, a 1.8 metre noise barrier would be installed on the perimeter. Plans also note the truck refuelling point is to be located at least 35m from the boundary of the closest resident.
But it’s little relief to the Bieman family which soon will also be bordered by the new rail overpass and more frequent coal train activity, just a stone’s throw away.
“We’ve been here 10 years and we like it here, but we don’t want this [development] to go ahead,” Mel said. “The increased traffic is the main thing.”
The location of the new service station, at the site of the old pig yards, received rigorous discussion during last week’s council meeting.
Cr David Quince agreed there was a community need for such a facility but questioned its placement adjacent to a nearby creek.
“Considering it’s right next to a waterway, it’s not an ideal place for a service station,” Mr Quince said.
But council said developers would be abiding by all relevant environmental protection measures.
The majority later voted in favour of the development’s approval.
“Council sees no planning grounds on which to refuse,” Gunnedah Shire general manager Eric Groth said.
The motion was supported by fellow councillors.
“This is something we’ve talked about for a long time and I congratulate the staff on a thorough assessment of the project,” one councillor said.
The seven days a week service centre will accommodate 44 car park spaces and six truck parking bays, which will be covered in part by shade sails.