By XAVIER SMERDON and VANESSA CHIRCOP
OUTRAGED Point Cook and neighbouring Seabrook residents are demanding action over a controversial petrol station they say has reduced the value of their houses by at least $50,000.
Star received calls from several residents who said the petrol station, on the corner of Dunnings and Point Cook roads had created a gathering point for hoons and was generating annoying noise.
Mark Whelan lives right near the petrol station and told Star that he felt betrayed by the Hobsons Bay Council because they did not go harder on the developer of the fuel station.
“We went to Cr Bill Tehan’s house when this first came up and had a meeting with him and he knew nothing about it,” Mr Whelan said.
Mr Whelan said residents were first told when they moved to the area that the site would be designated parkland.
They are also concerned about gas leaks and the possibility that fuel could leak into the nearby river.
Once it was announced that a petrol station was being built, residents were also told that an acoustic fence would be built to block out some of the noise but they claim this never happened.
“The Council is not looking after their residents,” he said.
“We would never have built in this area if we knew this would happen.”
Cr Tehan agreed that the station was causing problems.
“I certainly was aware of the site plan for a park only after being told by the residents and not having seen any evidence of this through council,” Cr Tehan said.
“Having witnessed a very fast opening of the service centre, it would appear that the high fences on the west of the site may assist in lessening noise levels but at night noise does travel and although I cannot complain about the car wash noise, I can complain about the cars meeting there at night and adding to the escalation of the hooning issue that already exists in the extreme within the area of Seabrook and Point Cook.”
