Planning for a proposed highway service centre on the south-western intersection of the Oxley and Pacific Highways has taken another step.
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At the May 16 Port Macquarie-Hastings Council meeting, councillors voted to push ahead with the plan.
A development application for the subdivision of the land was lodged in conjunction with the planning proposal for the construction of the highway service centre.
The report tabled before council noted that several issues needed to be addressed.
These included, traffic generation and access to the site. Both concerns will need to be to Roads and Maritime Services' satisfaction, the report noted.
Cr Peter Alley described the proposal as 'an exciting project'.
"It will certainly create employment in construction phase and when it is operational," he said.
"The three ducks need to be aligned; federal funding, state government support and local government support.
"A few issues need to be sorted out and I understand that staff and RMS can work through those issues.
A few issues need to be sorted out and I understand that staff and RMS can work through those issues.
- Cr Peter Alley
"Sewerage and how that will work and a proposed roundabout on the Oxley Highway are the main concerns."
Mayor Peta Pinson agreed that the project was 'quite exciting'.
"How fortunate are we in this local government area to have such confidence in investment in this area," she told the chamber.
"This confidence will flow through to jobs too. It will also see the wheels of our economy really spinning.
"To see another exciting project come before council is quite exciting."
Along with service station, restaurant/cafe, take away food outlets and parking and rest rooms, the site will also include an ancillary hotel or motel accommodation for heavy vehicle drivers.
The site has frontage to the Oxley Highway and Pacific Highway and covers a total area of 51.81 hectares. The planning proposal covers 18.43ha.
The application includes a north bound exit ramp from the Pacific Highway directly into the site, with entry and exit to the site from the Oxley Highway via a roundabout.
Speaking on behalf of the applicants, director of Hopkins Consultant Michael Mowle said work 'needs to start by July 1, 2019’.
Part of the recommendation adopted by council on May 16 means the planning proposal will be forwarded to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for ministerial approval.
