Start of demolition work on highway site ‘imminent’

The St Mary''s Tennis Pavilion and squash courts are due for demolition ahead of development of a 24-7 service station. Safety fencing has now been installed around the site ahead of the ''imminent'' demolition work.

By Jeremy Sollars

Work on the site of a new service station at the corner of Wood and Guy Streets in Warwick is set to commence in the coming days, starting with the demolition of the St Mary’s Tennis Pavilion and squash courts.

The demolition work had initially been expected to commence last week.

Father Franco Filipetto, speaking on behalf of the Toowoomba Catholic Diocese – which owns the site – this week told the Free Times that commencement of demolition is “imminent”.

Fr Franco previously advised that construction of the new service station is expected to be completed within six months, but was unable to advise which fuel company will operate the service station.

In late May of 2020 the Southern Downs Regional Council approved a development application for the highway site submitted by owner the Diocese for the development of a 24-7 service station.

Deputy Mayor Ross Bartley and Cr Cynthia McDonald voted against the approval, with all other councillors in favour.

Councillors last May included several amendments to approval conditions for the development, including additional signage to direct traffic and speed bumps to slow vehicles exiting the service station on Guy Street.

Comparisons were made at the time with the approval of the Caltex/Woolworths service station at the intersection of Albion and Grafton Streets, where changes to vehicle access were made after its approval due to concerns over vehicle movements and traffic queuing.