Plans are progressing to relocate and upgrade the Carlsruhe BP roadhouse to create a freeway service centre and restaurant.
Macedon Ranges Shire councillors heard submitters to the proposal last week including the proponents and four written objections.
The plan would see two main access points for the service centre provided from the north directly off the Freeway off ramp, the other off Springvale Road.
Bentley Property Group’s Andrew Ferguson told councillors the rebuild would upgrade the 1970s facility.
“It’s about 50 years old now and it’s time to renew it,” he said.
“Now it will have better facilities, more truck parking, a parkland area for families to stop, plus an electric car charge station.”
The design is a copy of the Caltex/Hungry Jacks service centre off Princes Highway at Longwarry.
Mr Ferguson said no agreement was yet finalised with an operator of the fast-food restaurant. The same operators of the current facility will be operating the new facilities.
“It’s quite a popular site as it is. It has a similar volume to that of the Kyneton service station. We would expect with the access, and more people being able to use it to come straight off the freeway, that it would increase,” Andrew said.
The site will remain a 24-hour, seven-day station and registered as a VicRoads rest-stop.
Managing director of Inception Planning, Leah Clarke, said the service centre would have a greater set-back within the site, “nestled into the landscape”. She said there would be more opportunities for landscaping.
Four objections outlined concerns relating to traffic, light, noise and increased customers.
They also expressed concern that the changes would mean less traffic and tourism for Woodend.
Councillors are expected to make a decision on the application at their March 23 meeting.
