TRC approves development application for new Yarraman service station

A development application for a new service station at Yarraman was approved at Toowoomba Regional Council’s (TRC) Special Meeting on April 6, 2022.

TRC Planning and Development Committee chair Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan said the meeting considered a development application for a Material Change of Use for a service station and Operational Works for two roof signs on the corner of Margaret and Toomey streets in Yarraman.

Cr O’Hara Sullivan said the proposed development was on vacant land within the Local Centre Zone as defined under the Toowoomba Regional Planning Scheme 2012.

“Council officers advised Council that a service station is listed as a use that is consistent with the intent of the Local Centre Zone,” Cr O’Hara Sullivan said.

“However, due to the location and nature of the land use, Council officers advised Councillors it had not been demonstrated that the proposed development would ‘primarily service the day-to-day needs of the local community’, and therefore, the proposal was considered to be inconsistent with assessment benchmarks of the Local Centre Zone Code.

“Despite this inconsistency, Council officers advised that the proposed service station was considered to achieve compliance with the relevant parts of the strategic framework of the Planning Scheme.

“Council officers also advised Councillors that the proposed development provided an appropriate supply of on-site vehicle parking spaces and it had been demonstrated the development could be established and operated in a manner that would ensure that off-site impacts on surrounding properties would be appropriately managed.

“On the basis of the above, Council officers recommended that the proposed development be approved, subject to conditions.”

Following consideration of the recommendation, Councillors voted in favour of the officer’s recommendation and approved the development application.