Perth Voice Interactive

A 24/7 PETROL station proposed for Wellington Street in East Perth has drawn ire over plans to stick fuel vents right next to apartments.

The WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has weighed in on the proposal, advising that “fuel vents have the potential to impact on amenity, due to being the point where vapours escape”.

A planning report by Perth council staff says “the fuel vent is close to the southern boundary of the lot directly abutting residential properties. 

“The applicant did not respond to a request to move this fuel vent further away. The amenity of adjoining residences therefore may be impacted by odours.”

On The Run

National petrol chain On The Run has applied to build the two storey “convenience store” featuring petrol pumps and a car wash at 141 Wellington Street. 

The joint Perth/state Development Assessment Panel is due to vote on the Wellington Street station at its October 17 meeting.

OTR’s application points out there used to be a service station on the site a few years ago, and says the store “will provide amenity to the locality by providing convenient goods”.

But Perth council planners have recommended refusal for a slew of reasons, from the fuel vents being right near houses to the wide driveways cutting across footpaths making for “an unpleasant pedestrian experience”.

A two-storey petrol station also falls short from Perth council’s planning strategy for the iconic corner site, as they ideally want a “high scale residential use” measuring at least 16 storeys.  

Expanding

OTR has been expanding at a rapid clip across Australia, but has hit a couple of speedbumps in WA. 

The company recently had their bid to open a petrol station on Walcott Street refused by DAP over concerns of the “adverse impact” on local amenity. 

They’re currently appealing that decision through the State Administrative Tribunal, and as a backup plan they’ve lodged a separate application for a scaled back version (“Fuelish plans,” Voice, September 26, 2023). 

by DAVID BELL