A new service station has been proposed for a main street at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast Council area.
The 2377sqm site at 14 Beerburrum Road, Beerburrum, had previously been used as a service station, with two bowsers operational until about 2010.
It adjoins the Glass House Mountains National Park and is close to the public car park for the Mount Beerburrum walking trail.
A town planning report by Adams and Sparkes Town Planning on behalf of applicants Puneet and Vandna Kalra, as trustees for the PV Kalra Family Trust, was submitted to the council on September 9.
“The subject site presents an ideal location for a service station servicing northbound traffic along Steve Irwin Way, with the nearest service station at Glass House Mountains primarily servicing southbound traffic,” the report states.
The development would include a new single-storey service station with a gross floor area of 180sqm, comprising a retail sales area, cold storage room, amenities and back-of-house storage.
The four fuel bowsers would be under a canopy and provide a total of eight refuelling bays, with nine additional car parking spaces provided.
The report notes that the proposal only allows for one space per refuelling bay instead of the required two, because of fuel truck manoeuvring needs, but says there is still sufficient room for vehicle queuing at the pumps and circulation during peak periods.
Access would be via two separate entry and exit points off Beerburrum Road.
The existing buildings on site, which include a shop and mechanic at ground level, with residential use above and to the rear, would be demolished to make way for the development.
Two underground fuel tanks remain from its previous use as a service station, but they have been decommissioned. The proposal includes two new underground tanks.
“The proposal seeks to re-establish an existing service station use and provide a more contemporary and convenient retail facility for the local community,” the report says.
It also notes that some boundary setbacks fall short of requirements but argues the design remains safe.
“The site is accessed from a service road and the layout has been designed to ensure safe vehicle circulation, clear sightlines and separation between vehicle and pedestrian movement areas. The reduced setbacks therefore do not compromise operational safety or efficiency of the development,” the report states.
The site is located within the Local Centre Zone of the Beerburrum Local Plan Area, but because Beerburrum is not listed as a ‘full service’ local activity centre the application is subject to impact assessment.
It also requires referral to the State Assessment and Referral Agency because the site adjoins the Queensland heritage-listed Glass House Mountains National Park and Beerburrum Forest Reserve, and the state-controlled Beerburrum Road.
