Allowing residential units to be built on the site of the infamous Queen Street petrol station at Warilla could be the solution to a long term problem according to Shellharbour City mayor Marianne Saliba.
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On Tuesday night Shellharbour councillors will discuss a planning proposal that would allow a residential building to be built in the business zone with consent.
Known unofficially as the Queen Street Servo, the property has established a reputation as one of the Illawarra’s great eyesores.
The former petrol station has sat vacant for 13 years falling into a state of disrepair.
Despite a valiant attempt the clean up the site in 2013 by the Queen Street Servo Project, led by Warilla North Baptist Church Pastor Brian Pember, the site has again fallen into disrepair thanks to regular vandal attacks.
The cost of the remediation works to the previous owner was suggested as one reason why the station was neglected for so long, with Australian Property Monitors reporting that new owners paid $82,500 for the 1618sqm site in 2014.
Shellharbour City Council staff say the precinct is in need of regeneration to assist in reducing anti-social behaviour and lift the economic viability of the small neighbourhood centre, where two of five shops currently sit vacant.
Cr Saliba said from her dealings with the community and the business, all agree a residential development on the site would be ‘‘a fantastic improvement’’ and benefit the area.
‘‘The current state of the building has created many problems including for the neighbouring childcare centre,’’ Cr Saliba said.
‘‘There is a huge push to clean up the site and there is a strong demand for housing the area.’’
Council staff have recommended a planning proposal be submitted to the NSW Planning and Environment to seek a ‘‘gateway determination’’ to enable the proposal to be placed on public exhibition.