An ongoing battle against a proposed petrol station at 59a High Street, Woodend will return to the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal next month.
The applicant for a United petrol station and “convenience cafe” is challenging Macedon Ranges councils’ refusal to grant a planning permit late last year.
Local group Settle Woodend, which is against the petrol station, is fundraising to have legal and expert representation act on behalf of the community at the April 23 hearing.
Group member Judith Ann Robertson said Settle Woodend had been addressing development concerns in Woodend for 10 years. The group recently engaged the services of a local planning barrister to oppose the petrol station.
Ms Robertson said she didn’t think any design for a petrol station could “be in keeping with Woodend”, and any station would significantly impact on the unique town’s vista.
She said there were other concerns about the disruption in traffic a petrol station would cause at the congested access point, and the consequential effect on pedestrians and cyclists.
Macedon Ranges residents have rallied against plans for a service station in Woodend twice in the past three years.
The most recent application was submitted to the council in September 2017. At the time residents campaigned against the application on social media and submitted a number of objections to the council.
Residents were also vocal against a similar proposal for a Coles Express at the same site in 2015. That proposal was rejected by the council, whose decision was then upheld by VCAT.
Ms Robertson said Settle Woodend had already raised more than half the funds it expected it would need for the case.
