Macedon Ranges Shire Council has refused a substantial amendment to the Edgecombe Road petrol station development at Kyneton.
The existing permit approved a service station, two convenience restaurants, and signage and access arrangements within the Edgecombe Road commercial precinct.
However, the applicant has requested several changes, including relocation of a convenience restaurant into a standalone building, introduction of a car wash facility, and separation of truck and passenger vehicle refuelling areas.
It also seeks changes to building architecture and materials, change to access and circulation arrangements, and reduction in the overall provision of car parking.
At their October ordinary meeting, councillors agreed that collectively the changes resulted in “an unacceptable departure from the development approved” and what was considered by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Councillor Jennifer Anderson put forward the motion for refusal, describing the proposed changes as a “significant departure” from what was decided.
“This is not about prosecuting the original decision made. This is looking at what the amendment is before us,” she said.
Cr Anderson’s motion stated the application had not satisfactorily demonstrated that the amended development would achieve the same planning, urban design, environmental and operational outcomes that formed the basis of the original approval.
Another concern flagged was wastewater, stormwater and other contaminants collected on site and how they would be treated.
It stated the application did not address how the traffic would be safely accommodated without creating unreasonable congestion on the surrounding road network.
Concern about the development within the landscape and and environment, and gateway presentation, was another reason for refusal.
Cr Anderson said a vital point was that the proposed removal of condition 1J would unreasonably detach endorsement of development plans from the engineering, stormwater management and construction management requirements of the permit.
Councillors accepted the refusal without opposition. Crs at the meeting were: Anderson, Borthwick, Guthrie, Joseph and Scanlon. Two councillors were apologies for the meeting, while two others were on leave.
The site for the petrol station development is part of a broader subdivision. The petrol station development was approved at VCAT in 2022 with 58 conditions.
The planning permit has been extended once for an additional two years in June 2024, requiring development to begin by August this year.
A separate application to extend the planning permit for an additional two years is currently being considered by the council.