Midland Gate 7-Eleven service station approved despite congestion fears for Great Eastern Highway
State planning authorities have approved the development of a 7-Eleven service station near a busy motorway interchange, despite concerns from the City of Swan and Main Roads WA.
The $2.2 million service station at Midland Gate shopping centre, on the corner of the Great Eastern Highway and Brockman Road, will have eight refueling points, six parking spaces and operate 24/7.
The Metro Exterior Development Review Panel approved the proposal 3-2 at its Dec. 18 meeting, while City of Swan councilors Rod Henderson and Jennifer Catalano voted against it.
The city had recommended MODAP refuse the application because Main Roads WA had concerns about whether there was sufficient space for fuel trucks to enter the site.
He had suggested that the nearby intersection be replaced at the applicant’s expense if the review board approved the project, but the board voted to remove that requirement.
Planning consultants told the panel that there was no need for junction improvements as the site was in a location that allowed fuel delivery outside peak operating times.
The panel was told 7-11 used “very experienced” drivers who had a manifesto explaining how they should access each site.
“It seems to us that there is an attempt to use this development and this developer to upgrade the junction to a standard that it should already be,” a planning consultant told the panel.
“On average, fuel tanker visits occur approximately twice a week. It will strictly take place late at night and early in the morning to minimize any conflict with customers.”
Panel chair member Karen Hyde agreed that improving the intersection should not be the applicant’s responsibility.
“If Main Roads are of the view that this particular junction should be improved, widened, brought up to a standard that they determine is appropriate, then that is a regional issue for Main Roads and potentially the local authority,” he said.
Crs Henderson and Catalano believed the proposed site was too close to the Great Eastern Motorway-Lloyd Street junction.
“The Great Eastern Motorway is relatively narrow, four lanes,” Cr Henderson said.
“It’s getting very congested; as time goes on, it’s going to get worse and the intersection is going to get more congested.”
Cr Catalano said Brockman Road was not built for a lot of traffic.
“Within 50 meters of a really busy intersection, I believe it’s actually on the verge of failure,” he said.
“It’s incredibly congested there. I don’t understand how advocates even think this is possible.”
Deputy Mayor Tony Arias said neither Main Roads nor the city has raised concerns about traffic congestion.
“There may be traffic challenges and congestion, I have no doubt about that, but it’s also probably a recognition of the success of the Midland regional center and that success comes with some problems, and the problems are congestion,” he said.
The development will cause Midland Gate to lose 50 car parking spaces. A Guzman Y Gomez development in the other corner of the car park also meant that 46 bays were lost.
A report to the panel said this total loss was unlikely to affect parking at Midland Gate.
“It is estimated that there will continue to be at least 443 vacant spaces in the shopping center during busy periods,” the report said.
