Metro Central JDAP approves proposed 24-hour petrol station on Morley Drive

A FORMER petrol station site on Morley Drive will be home to a new petrol station and convenience store after being vacant for five years.

The site at 430 Morley Drive was most recently used as a pool service shop, which ran from 2003 to 2013.

Since 1969, there have been several petrol stations, including a Caltex which closed in 2001.

At this morning’s meeting, the Metro Central Joint Development Assessment Panel unanimously approved Planning Solution’s proposal for a 24-hour petrol station and convenience store worth $2.1 million.

There will be 14 car bays including eight staff bays, six petrol bowsers, an air and water bay and landscaping along the Morley Drive and Wellington Road street frontages.

Conditions include the removal of the existing western crossover on the Morley Drive road reserve and the verge being reinstated and submitting noise, waste management and landscaping plans to the City of Bayswater.

Panel member and Bayswater councillor Catherine Ehrhardt’s amendment to decrease the rear set back from 3m to 1m was passed.

City of Bayswater planning services manager Helen Smith said lowering the recommended 3m rear setback could create noise for residential properties next to the site.

However, Cr Ehrhardt believed the 3m setback would could increase anti-social behaviour so a reduction was more suitable.

Specialist member Michael Hardy said the development was consistent with its historical use of a petrol station and the City’s town planning scheme.