A new highway service centre near Port Macquarie is set to be under construction in 2022 with the development expected to open the following year.
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Development consent allows the project, at the south-western junction of the Oxley Highway and the Pacific Highway, to move to the construction stage.
The construction cost is expected to be upwards of $30 million.
An integrated building will house a service station, a food court with six internal tenancies and a truckers' lounge. There will also be a stand-alone fast food restaurant.
The developer is amid ongoing discussions with national retailers as part of the planning process.
An economic impact assessment prepared by Foresight Partners showed the development should generate up to 70 jobs during construction and likely employ about 250 people once open.
Retail property developer and investor Scott PDI is the developer and owner of the land.
Scott DPI managing director David Scott described the development approval as a "watershed moment" for the life of the project because it meant they could move into the construction phase.
"We really do think this [highway service centre] will be a good fit within the network for people travelling the Mid-North Coast," he said.
The service centre will provide a stop for heavy vehicles and other highway motorists as it encourages drivers to "stop, revive, survive".
"We are looking to provide significant parking for trucks off the highway to enable another rest stop to try to help improve the safety and the productivity of the highway system, being the Oxley Highway and the Pacific Highway," Mr Scott said.
"It is also going to provide a rest and refreshment opportunity for the travelling public as well."
There will be 148 car parking spaces, 25 truck parking spaces, two bus parking spaces, eight caravan/trailer/motorhome parking slots and four motorcycle parking spaces.
Roadwork is part of the project including the construction of an extension to the Pacific Highway off-ramp and a new roundabout at the Billabong Drive and Oxley Highway intersection.
Mr Scott said the highway service centre was an opportunity for government to work in with private development to ensure the donut interchange was upgraded at the same time as the other external roadworks for the service centre.
It has been a more than four year process to reach the development approval.
Mr Scott said they appreciated the support of Port Macquarie-Hastings Council towards the project and recognising the development's potential over the years.
The council's Development Assessment Panel granted consent, with conditions, to the development application on Thursday, October 7.
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