Controversial ‘roundabout’ petrol station approved

A proposed service station at the busy Chester Pass Road roundabout is a step closer after the State Administrative Tribunal gave final approval to the application late last month.

The controversial plan was conditionally approved in August after proponent Peter Webb and Associates appealed the City of Albany’s February decision to block the $2.4 million application, primarily over traffic safety concerns.

The intersection has been ranked in the top-two worst regional intersections in WA based on crash figures over the past three years.

In a ruling released earlier this week following a hearing on December 18, the SAT gran-ted final approval to the propo-sal with the original 14 conditions remaining in place.

City of Albany executive director development services Paul Camins said the City had accepted the SAT’s decision.

Mr Camins said the next step would be taken between Main Roads and the proponent.

“The conditions imposed by SAT require the applicant to work with Main Roads WA to determine appropriate access measures,” he said.

The service station and lunch bar will be the 19th fuel outlet in Albany.

Main Roads has previously objected to the proposal, raising concerns a development would increase traffic and create more “conflict points” at the roundabout, but this has been denied by the proponent.

A Main Roads spokesman said the department was awaiting advice from the City and the proponent before development could proceed further.