11 July 2008

Petrol stations in gungahlin

| grumpyrhonda
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Does anyone have any idea at all about what maybe happening with the unused service station at Amaroo?

With Forde now populated and Bonner soon to be, we really need another petrol station out here.

I’d love to see an independant servo here. Really stick it up Coles and Woolies!

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Jonathon Reynolds12:05 am 14 Jul 08

Jonathon Reynolds said :

Canberra businessman Renato Cervo has previously claimed he would never have built the petrol station if he had known a Shell Coles Express outlet was being constructed in the same area.

The site next to Magnet Mart was sold (leased) many years ago for the purposes of building a service station, the original block was sold in 2001 before the land across the road for the Woolworths/Caltex facility.

A reference is made to the specific dates in this transcription of an article from the Northside Chronicle September 2005):
http://www.gungahlin.net/news/september_2005/push_for_another_fuel_station.html

Peter Coggan (former president of the GCC) was also on record in October 2005 about the issue:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2005/10/03/1473395.htm

I seem to remember some informal discussion of the issues either at the GCC public or executive meetings.

Given that it is likely that Mr. Cervo would have known about or considered bidding for the original (now Coles Express) block in 2001 (being the astute developer that he is) you wonder why he would bid to develop another service station site if he knew there would (or could) be direct competition.

Unfortunately the government/ACTPLA is unable to tell an individual how to run their business so I can imagine a mexican stand-off between Cervo and the authorities (in so far as fixing the problem with the canopy so the property can actually be leased… especially since the authorities would have given final building approval/sign-off in the first place).

It will be interesting to see what if anything the Government/ACTPLA now does to rectify the current situation – I doubt they have the courage or will to take any decisive action against this developer.

Jonathon Reynolds4:53 pm 13 Jul 08

The Canberra Times had the following article in 22 March 2008:
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/station-closures-fuel-complaints/465449.aspx

“There is also the bizarre case of the new Amaroo service station in Gungahlin, which was finished 12 months ago but has never opened.

Canberra businessman Renato Cervo has previously claimed he would never have built the petrol station if he had known a Shell Coles Express outlet was being constructed in the same area. Tomorrow is D-Day for Mr Cervo’s servo. By then he will be officially in breach of his lease conditions and may have to relinquish the land. It’s an extreme example of the competitiveness of the service station industry, which has only become tougher with the introduction of the Shell Coles Express and and Woolworths/Caltex outlets in the last few years.”

Felix the Cat said :

There’s a Caltex (not Woolies) one at Gold Creek. It’s usually more expensive than the Coles and Woolies ones – so much for “sticking it up” Coles and Woolies. Must be a Caltex thing, the Caltex at Mitchell is usually more expensive than anywhere else too.

Farrer has an indepedent servo, it’s always very competitive in price, and gives great service too! If only Amaroo had an operator like that. shame about that roof!

You gotta be kidding? The roof too low for the tankers? Thats like building a house and forgetting to put in doors for the occupants!Beggers belief.

grumpyrhonda2:38 pm 13 Jul 08

Good grief. The roof is too low. Great planning! NOT!

Nice work Al. A little extra competition in the area would be great, and god knows its needed

Gungahlin Al10:51 pm 11 Jul 08

I have now written to Minister Barr about this Rhonda. Thanks for the reminder – been meaning to do it for a few weeks, but kept slipping my mind when in front of computer.

My understanding is that the developer stupidly put the roof too low for the trucks to get under, so no of the major fuel chains will consider buying or leasing it.

I’ll put something up on our website http://www.gcc.asn.au when we get a response.
Cheers.

So Mr. Cervo breached his lease 3 months ago and they have done what about it?

From my understanding not the first time this gentleman has done something similiar

Jonathon Reynolds8:39 pm 11 Jul 08

You may be interested in this email correspondence from Andrew Barr regarding the matter:
http://gcc.asn.au/content/view/220/264/

It is something the the Gungahlin Community Council will now follow up with ACTPLA and the Minister.

Felix the Cat8:13 pm 11 Jul 08

There’s a Caltex (not Woolies) one at Gold Creek. It’s usually more expensive than the Coles and Woolies ones – so much for “sticking it up” Coles and Woolies. Must be a Caltex thing, the Caltex at Mitchell is usually more expensive than anywhere else too.

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