Holbrook servo gets the nod for southern site

Greater Hume Council last night ended months of division by approving the $6 million development on the southern edge of town.

The council voted 5-2 at Holbrook for the service station development that will generate up to 50 jobs with a fast food outlet and bakery on the site located next door to a caravan park and near two motels.

Holbrook-based councillor John McInerney said the prospect of more jobs out-weighed the negatives including a 5-metre high wall to mitigate noise between the service centre and caravan park and a 20-metre tall main sign to alert Hume Highway traffic.

He was backed by Mayor Heather Wilton and Crs Doug Meyer, Karen Schoff and Stuart Heriot.

Cr Denise Osborne and Cr Tony Quinn opposed the plan and Cr Jenny O’Neill and Cr Annette Schilg were absent.

“The proposed site is not of my choosing or council’s choosing,” Cr McInerney said.

“I don’t think there are any reasons put forward against the development that would stand up to a legal challenge.

“We have the potential for 50 jobs and as a councillor I couldn’t sleep at night if I knocked back that opportunity.”

Cr McInerney predicted an existing Caltex service station in Holbrook would close due to its lack of visibility from the highway and the town would suffer a double whammy if the larger centre didn’t proceed.

Cr Osborne was the Greater Hume shire mayor in 2008 when the council wooed developers to build a service station at the northern end of Holbrook once the town was by-passed.

But she opposed the current proposal primarily due to the impact of the wall between the service station and council-owned caravan park.

“There is nothing you can do to take away the impact of a five metre wall,” she said.

“You could put Picasso paintings on there, but it is still an enormous wall they will be facing.”

Cr Quinn queried whether the service station would deliver genuine economic benefits to the town.

“Rather than economic development, I think it might be economic vandalism,” he said.

“The Holbrook economy is so crucial if you tinker with it the wrong way you will lose it.

“You can talk all you like about keeping your people here and vibrant towns.

“You’ve got to keep what you’ve got.”

Earlier, a public forum on the subject, the plan was opposed by Gail Chynoweth, June Kirkpatrick, Graham Constable, caravan park operator Trevor Liddell, Denise Zarboch and Anthony Beaumont, while those who spoke in favour were Matthew Pitzen, Maree Haynes and Tom Last — who revealed he sold the land to Caltex for the service station.

Mr Last said there was a precedent for the land being used as a service station and the town should embrace its first major development in more than a decade.

He advised chamber of commerce critics of the plan to “do your research and deal with the facts”.

Caltex spokesman Ross Underwood gave an undertaking trucks wouldn’t be travelling through town.

“They have jobs to do and will be looking for the shortest exit out,” he said.

The site will have 45 car parks and room for about 20 trucks.