Yandina community fights on as controversial service station poised for next phase

Michelle Brady, left, and YADCA president Marie Reeve on the site of the proposed service station. “Yandina is a heritage town  ... it is not aligned with the town’s character.”

by Cameron Outridge

Residents of Yandina are continuing to fight a controversial service station development in the heart of their heritage town.

Despite continuing strong objections from the community and from Sunshine Coast Council Pearl Investments has submitted the application for an Operational Works Permit, with a request for further information response due to the council by December 19, 2024.

The proposed development looks set to occupy a 1966-square-metre site opposite the historical School of Arts hall on Farrell Street, a location that locals argue is inappropriate for such a facility. The service station plans include a shop outlet and 11 car parking spaces, but residents are concerned about the impact on the town's character, safety, and existing businesses.

“Personally, I feel it's an outrage that communities' and councils' wishes are ignored,” said Michelle Brady, a concerned citizen and member of both the Yandina and District Community Association (YADCA) and Business Yandina (BY). “Yandina is a heritage town and will be permanently scarred if this location is used for a service station, it is not aligned with the towns character.”

The community's opposition dates back to January 2021 when the initial development application was lodged. Council refused the application on June 10, 2021, citing concerns over traffic safety and incompatibility with the town's heritage precinct. Pearl Investments challenged the refusal in the Planning and Environment Court, leading to a negotiated decision that approved the service station after design modifications.

“The town was heartbroken when it was approved,” said YADCA president, Marie Reeve. “In this case, the council had said 'no.' But developers just ignored them and took it above their heads to the Planning and Environment Court.  Council is limited with funding to continue fighting at P&E court. So, often, they are forced to compromise. That was the case here, and it’s not in the public interest, and it’s clearly not what the community wants.  “We’re not opposed to a small business opening up. It's the location of it that's the issue.”

Safety is another major issue. The site is located on a dangerous corner with limited line of sight, a spot notorious for accidents, including fatalities when it was part of the old Bruce Highway. “The entrance is too close to the corner and too close to the neighbouring driveway,” Ms Reeve said. “Traffic will queue on Farrell Street behind a tanker turning into the site. Tankers will have to give way to traffic exiting onto Farrell Street.”

Residents are also worried about fuel tankers running through residential areas and past a childcare centre on narrow, car-lined streets. Additional concerns include the risk of fire, as well as potential odour, noise, light pollution, and stormwater runoff affecting nearby properties.

YADCA, along with Business Yandina and the Yandina School of Arts, has been at the forefront of the opposition, organising petitions and protests to raise awareness. However, the development's code-assessable status has limited the community's ability to formally have a say or influence the outcome.

“The bigger picture of this story is that it’s yet another case of big industry bullying communities and their councils, with their big resources,” Brady said. “It's an important story and needs to be addressed because it's happening in lots of different areas.”

Residents have proposed alternative uses for the land that would better align with Yandina's historical character and future growth, such as extending the main street, creating public spaces or parks, building a library, or adding more shops.

As the December deadline approaches for Pearl Investments to provide additional information to the council, the community remains hopeful but realistic about their chances. “We need to call out the steamrolling effect of big business and big development,” Ms Brady said. “We just want development that respects the heritage and safety of our town.”