Support for Wanneroo fuel station plan

PLANS for a fuel station in central Wanneroo received a planning tick of approval recently despite concerns it might not suit the town centre vision.

A City of Wanneroo report to the North West Metropolitan Development Assessment Panel in July recommended it refuse the application for a 7-Eleven fuel station and convenience store at 929-931 Wanneroo Road.

It said the plans did not satisfy the Wanneroo town centre plan and policy or the City’s signage policy.

Reasons included that the single-storey structure did not offer diversity and flexibility of uses, and signage was “excessive” and bigger than the policy allowed.

Architect Malcolm Mackay gave a presentation, described by presiding member Karen Hyde as “tongue in cheek” and “sarcastic”, comparing the building to iconic structures internationally that featured large signs.

Mr Mackay also gave examples of former fuel stations refurbished for other uses, such as Café Bianchi in Mount Hawthorn.

When the recommendation to refuse lapsed for want of a mover, the panel turned to an alternative recommendation to approve the $2.2 million building with conditions.

Ms Hyde said the plan would activate the street corner, and signage of up to 8m rather than the 6m limit was acceptable on the pylon supporting the bowser canopy.

“It’s easy to adapt this structure to some other use,” panel member Paul Dreschler said.

“When we are all driving solar powered cars or something like that, this will change.”