Posted in Property

The planned Kings Forest Service station has received the green light to operate 24 hours a day.

The site, which was already approved to be used as a service station, has now gained New South Wales Government approval to operate 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Some residents and the Tweed Shire Council had opposed the project, claiming a 24-hour service station could increase noise pollution, traffic, litter and food exhaust emissions while its illuminated signage could impact on residential amenity.

The approval is a victory for developer Geoff Booth of BGlobal and planning consultancy Sargeant Planning.

Mr Booth’s company bought the already approved site from Leda Group and then applied for the planned servo, west of Kingscliff in northern NSW and a kilometre from the new Tweed Valley Hospital, to be a 24-hour operation.

The new service station will service the residents of the area including the new Kings Forest community being developed by Australia Stock Exchange-list property giant Stockland.

The approved development also includes several building design changes and includes a takeaway outlet that has been leased by KFC for 15 years.

Mr Booth said arguments put forward by Sargeant Planning were crucial to obtaining government approval.

“Sargeant Planning showed through extensive research that the proposed changes met the requirements under the Planning Act and would not create greater environmental impacts,’’ Mr Booth said.

“This change will benefit the growing community in Tweed Shire with the new centre at the entry of the developing Kings Forest Estate.

“Kings Forest is one of the largest housing projects in the Tweed Shire and it will become home for more than 10,000 people.”
Mr Booth said the company had applied for State Government approval because the council planning process was not efficient.

“The planning process is so slow and Council’s actions opposing the proposal caused further delays,’’ he said.

“Thankfully, the State Government agreed with the sound planning arguments put forward by Sargeant Planning, enabling an approval to be issued.”

Sargeant Planning director Boyd Sargeant said the original Kings Forest approvals, which dated back to more than a decade ago, were very complex.

“We were able to demonstrate the proposed changes did not have negative noise or lighting impacts and would service the large interstate commuter traffic moving along this corridor between NSW and Queensland,” Mr Sargeant said.

Detailed planning is now underway to enable construction to begin.