City fights petrol station proposal

Dunsborough residents and the City of Busselton are fighting a proposal to build a third petrol station on Dunn Bay Road, fearing it will create congestion and change the functionality of the town.

The City will next week submit its recommendation that the application be refused to the Joint Development Assessment Panel, before the decision is announced on December 14.

City of Busselton planning and development services director Paul Needham said highly traffic-intensive development on the main street of Dunsborough should not be supported.

"The City will submit its recommendation to the Joint Development Assessment Panel by December 8, and will be recommending the refusal of the application," he said.

"The City and many others have been working hard over the last few years to identify and implement strategies that will, over time, progressively make the Dunsborough town centre more attractive, functional, and, in particular, more pedestrian-friendly.

"The City is of the view that highly traffic-intensive development of this kind, things like service stations or drive-through facilities, is simply not appropriate in locations like this and should not be supported."

The proponents for the application, Puma Energy Australia, decided to go straight to the Development Assessment Panel, bypassing City of Busselton consideration.

A Puma Energy spokeswoman said it selected the DAP process for its ability to balance technical expertise and local knowledge during decision making.

"Puma Energy believes in bringing more choice and a better quality convenience experience to consumers, particularly in regional Australia, which is why we've selected Dunsborough for a new Puma Energy fuel and convenience store," she said.

"We are committed to our customers and to supporting the communities where we operate.

"It is our hope to work closely with council to ensure we bring new facilities to Dunsborough that will meet council guides and benefit the community."

However, Dunsborough resident Tony Sharp said the proposal would change the look and feel of the town.

"The development is being described as a convenience store, but its bowsers and a six-metre high sign will dominate the road," he said. "It is expecting to attract 978 vehicle trips a day and during summer and holidays we know how busy and congested the corner of Cyrillean Way and Dunn Bay Road can become.

"That site on the main street is much too valuable to be wasted on a petrol station … to put a petrol station in the middle of Dunsborough is crazy for traffic reasons, planning reasons and for health reasons."

Mr Needham said the City would be happy to identify other suitable sites for the petrol station.

"If the City was approached to assist in identifying a suitable site for development of an additional fuel sales outlet in Dunsborough, we would be happy to assist," he said.