Applicant refuses to change hours on service station

Orange City Council deferred the proposal for a 7-Eleven service station, car wash and neighbourhood shops earlier this month, asking the applicant to review the 24-hour operations.

The applicant agreed to close the car wash at 9pm, down from 10pm, but told the council the 24-hour service station arrangement was part of its model and therefore critical for its viability.

Opponent Josh Fitzgerald was encouraged by the support for the petition.

“There’s 200 people saying they won’t support it and won’t shop there,” he said. 

Mauro D’Amico said he had measured noise at a car wash in town at almost 100 decibels and 9pm was still too late for the one proposed metres from his boundary, despite the closest bay being limited to 6pm operation.

“[The mechanic] is noisy but come 6pm they’re finished,” he said.