A DEVELOPER is hoping to gain a three year extension on an approval to redevelop the service station site in John Street.
Kimmick Pty Ltd first successfully applied for a rezoning of the 4310sqm property in 2016 to get the go-ahead to build a service station cafe, fast food outlet, shop, snack bar and takeaway food premises. The council. approval also included a repair station on the site.
As part of the redevelopment, the landowner advised that all existing buildings would be removed and a new and improved service station and carpark would be constructed.
In documents uploaded with the original application, the company advised that the uses outlined in the proposal were chosen to ensure future flexibility.
“The proposed building includes six multi-purpose tenancies that are suitable to accommodate the range of uses included in the application,” town planning agents for the developer explained.
“The intent of the application is to allow flexibility for the shopping centre uses (such as ‘Business Use’ for the Service Station, Cafe, Fast Food Premises, Shop, Snack Bar and Takeaway Food Premises) to occur in any of the proposed tenancies.
“This includes the point of sale and retail component of the service station use.
“An exception is the dedicated vehicle workshop (Service/Trades Use) identified on the proposal plans which will be used exclusively for this purpose in conjunction with the operation of the Service Station business.”
Ipswich council approved the development in April 2016 and extended it again on a request from the developer in 2019.
In the current application for another extension, the developer stated that Covid initially caused the delay in starting the work and more recently, the preferred builder “has now gone out of business”.
“There are multiple Operational Works applications required to be prepared and submitted to Council for approval, in addition to detailed design and engineering which will take a substantial amount of time to complete before construction can commence,” rounded out the application for a three year extension.
The application is currently being assessed by Council’s town planners.