7-Eleven development proposal in Geraldton to face assessment panel, with community feedback against project

A proposal to build the first 7-Eleven service station in Geraldton is set to face the Regional Development Assessment Panel next week, but traffic and pollution headlined dozens of concerns from the community regarding the project. Set to be located on Durlacher Street next to Rigters IGA, the service station would have six refuelling bays, and would be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. According to the report, the facility was valued at $2.7 million and if approved would be built on the land owned by J&B Rigter. A two-week consultation period from the City of Greater Geraldton received 72 responses, 70 of which were against the proposal. Traffic issues, compatibility with adjacent residential areas, and noise and light pollution were among the concerns from the public. In response, officers believed the potential impacts could be mitigated, with a transport impact assessment and environmental noise assessment both conducted as part of the application. The increasing number of service stations in Geraldton was also flagged as a reason against the proposal, but according to the report was “not a relevant planning consideration”. 7-Eleven has been operating in WA for 10 years, and offers not only fuel services but convenience retail offerings. In the report, the site was flagged in an area receiving increased volumes of traffic during school pick-up and drop-off times, between 8-9am, and between 3-4pm. It estimated there would be between 97 to 111 trips during the peak periods, but only about 40 per cent of those would be “new trips”. City development services director Ryan Hall previously told the Geraldton Guardian the road was designed to be busy, and the block of land was zoned for a commercial property. “It’s a busy street because that’s its function, to help people move within the city,” he said. “It plays an important role with the city centre, the hospital, and with getting to school and to work. “I think that’s the aim of this is that it will service those people that are already driving along Durlacher Street.” The matter will face the RDAP on Tuesday, March 25.