Alocal resident wants the planning authorities to insist that shrubs be planted to minimise the visual impact of a proposed fuel outlet in a parklands area of Millicent.


The call has come from retired educator John Drew who has also served on Wattle Range Council since 2013.


A Crystal Brook fuel company already has planning permission to erect an unmanned fuel outlet.


However, a fresh application was submitted to the planning authorities last month for a manned site with provision for a control room and convenience store,


Public comment has been invited on the application and the matter was raised by Cr Drew at the monthly meeting of Wattle Range Council in Millicent on Tuesday.


Cr Drew said the manned fuel outlet posed a “cleft stick” for him as he believed Millicent badly needed competition in the market.


“Due to the higher petrol prices in Millicent, we are losing sales to places like Mount Gambier,” Cr Drew said.


“While there, Millicent people might do other shopping.


“Another fuel outlet in Millicent will create employment opportunities.


“On the other hand, I am worried about the aesthetics of a fuel outlet.


“If it goes ahead, they should be made to plant shrubs to minimise the impact.”


Acting in a private capacity, Cr Drew said he made a representation on the original proposal in 2022 and was heard by Limestone Coast Southern Regional Assessment Panel.


“I was told to keep my verbal submission to 10 minutes and did so,” he said.


“When the fuel company advocate got up to speak, he said his verbal submission would take more than 10 minutes and was allowed to do so.


“This was not a level playing field and consistency is needed from the assessment panel.”


Wattle Range Council Development Services Director Emma Clay said the planning approval for the original unmanned fuel outlet remained until September.


She said the manned proposal was similar in many respects to the original unmanned application.


Ms Clay said if the manned fuel outlet proposal was unsuccessful, permission for the original application still applied.


Mayor Des Noll questioned whether it was appropriate for Ms Clay to supply information to elected members on this matter.


In reply, chief executive Ben Gower said a commitment to do so was given a few years ago at the time of the original application.


Mayor Noll stressed that Cr Drew was acting in a private capacity and the veteran councillor agreed.


The Crystal Brook company had lodged its application for a fuel outlet in 2021 on a vacant block of land at the corner of Adelaide and Cattle Bridge roads and adjoining Apex Park.


The former railway land was owned by the State Government and had been listed for sale for some time.


The only on-site action since the Crystal Brook company was granted approval has been the removal of three large pine trees.


Millicent only has two other fuel outlets and both are owned by the same company.