GOULBURN could score another two service stations if plans before Council are approved.
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Woolworths and 7-Eleven are proposing to build the projects on Hume St and Clinton St respectively.
But the latter will come at the expense of three cottages, if endorsed. Accompanying documents describe 88 to 92 Clinton St as having low heritage significance and not “rare or threatened” in the heritage conservation area.
Sydney based firm Isaac Property Developments has lodged the application on behalf of 7-Eleven Pty Ltd.
Co-director Ben Isaac has a local connection as grandson of former long time real estate agent, Fergus Isaac.
His father, Paul also developed the Argyle Mall (now Goulburn Plaza) 30 years ago.
The company is building 10 other 7-Eleven outlets in regional areas, including Orange, Bathurst and on the south coast.
“They have been looking for some time to establish in Goulburn because it’s a key market for them,” Mr Isaac said.
“They identify the markets they want to be in based on convenience and location.”
The building work, valued at $1.9m, includes eight fuel pumps under a canopy, a 173 square metre convenience store and underground petrol tanks storing a total 180,000 litres.
It is proposed to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with two staff employed. Isaac Developments settled sales of three cottages one to two months ago.
“We were willing buyers and they were willing sellers,” Mr Isaac said.
They would be bulldozed to make way for the service station, along with all existing trees and vegetation.
Mr Isaac said his firm completed a heritage impact study at Council’s request. It found that developments in the area had already dwindled residential stock.
“Demolition of the dwellings would not significantly erode the character or integrity of the predominant period housing stock within the heritage conservation area and given the highly eroded streetscape through previous unsympathetic demolition and development, demolition would not adversely impact on the cohesiveness or character of the established streetscape,” the document states.
The study made no mention of the fact that 90 Clinton St was a former private hospital, known as ‘The Pines.’
It was established by Dr Birmingham in the early 1900s, according to Stephen Tazewell’s ‘Grand Goulburn.’
He had consultation rooms on the corner of Clinton and Bourke St and the nearby hospital was “a most convenient arrangement for him.”
“The Misses McInerney ran The Pines for many years and may well have been the last,” the book states.
“The hospital closed at the end of the war – about 1945.”
Mr Isaac said the location was driven by the B4 Mixed Use zoning which permitted the service station. The council had not voiced any heritage concerns but had requested the study.
None of the cottages are listed as heritage items in the Local Environmental Plan. But their location in the heritage conservation area demanded a higher level of consideration, Council’s development control manager Richard Davies said.
Mr Isaac said he was happy to consider all issues raised in public submissions. The project also includes extensive landscaping.
“We’re excited about doing something in Goulburn obviously because of the family ties but we’re looking forward to getting stuck into a development that will be good for the city and deliver jobs,” he said.
7-Eleven Pty Ltd is a family owned company with more than 600 stores on the Eastern seaboard. Earlier this year it entered the West Australian market. If approved, construction of the Goulburn outlet would take four months and be operational soon after.
But not everyone is happy. Mr Davies said several people had told him they’d be formally objecting.
“It’s mainly on the basis of change of use and public interaction,” he said.
“Being a late night facility, people are concerned about the impact from surrounding activities, including from intoxicated persons.”
If submissions are received by the November 20 deadline, councillors will decide the DA.
COUNCIL planners are likely to approve a second Woolworths Caltex service station in coming days.
The grocery giant plans to build a $1.2 million complex on the corner of Ducks Lane and Hume St, beside Bunnings.
Comprising a 280 square metre building, 80sqm café, kiosk, nine fuel stations and three underground tanks, the project is expected to capture trade from the nearby Merino service station.
“Woolworths saw a lot of opportunity there,” landowner and director of Great Southern Developments, Rod Thompson said.
“Their service station in town is quite small and hemmed in so they saw the chance to capitalise on highway trade and look after local customers at the same time.”
Mr Thompson bought the land several years ago as part of a liquidation sale. Franchises, including 7 Eleven and Hungry Jacks, and childcare operators had expressed interest.
Council’s development control manager Richard Davies said no public submissions were lodged.
As there were no community concerns or variations from planning policies and government agencies had not objected, planners rather than councillors would determine the DA.
Mr Davies said on Thursday this would occur in the next few business days.