New highway service centre proposed near Port Macquarie

The planned development is earmarked for land on the south-western side of the Oxley Highway and Pacific Highway intersection.

The project would generate up to 70 jobs during construction with the highway service centre likely to employ about 250 people once open.

The figures are contained in an economic impact statement which forms part of a suite of development application documents on exhibition at Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.

The economic impact statement concludes there is a strong need for the proposal.

Documentation shows the Port Macquarie project has an estimated cost of $19.2 million.

The service centre is planned with seven tenancies - one retail store and six food and drink outlets - as well as a stand-alone food and drink premises, the documents show.

The service station would have eight fuel dispensers for cars and three fuel dispensers for trucks.

There would be 170 car parking spaces, 25 truck parking spaces and five caravan/trailer spaces.

The highway service centre would cater to vehicles travelling on the Pacific Highway and Oxley Highway.

Highway improvements form part of the proposal.

Pacific Highway access would be via a new off-ramp and a new roundabout would give access from the Oxley Highway.

The centre would operate 24-hours, seven days a week, pending approval.

The most recent Highway Service Centre Policy, published in 2014, proposed the establishment of a service centre on the western side of the Pacific Highway at Port Macquarie.

Transport for NSW regional director northern Brett Butcher said highway service centres encouraged drivers to "stop, revive, survive".

"They provide opportunities for drivers to take breaks when they recognise the warning signs of fatigue, which contributes significantly to travel safety and efficiency," he said.

"The sites selected for service centres are strategically positioned at regular intervals along the highway to encourage drivers to take breaks, and most are close to bypassed towns so the economic benefits can remain with those communities."

Transport for NSW has recently received a referral from the council to comment on the development application.

The community has until February 28 to lodge comments with the council about the proposal.

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