Sorell Council has approved a new 24-hour service station and car wash at the main entrance to the town.
The council unanimously approved the development at 139 Main Road at its Tuesday night meeting.
The Vibe-branded development will include a convenience store, six car wash bays, four vacuum bays and fuel bowsers.
Planning documents state the site will operate around the clock.
The car wash will generally be unmanned, with a staff member attending regularly for maintenance.
The service station will generally have no more than two staff on site at any time.
The 3.4-hectare site is in a gateway location for drivers entering Sorell from the causeway.
A planning consultant engaged by the council recommended approval, finding the proposal complied with all applicable planning standards.
The council approved the development with 36 conditions covering noise, lighting, stormwater treatment and construction management.
Three people made representations about the proposal.
One neighbour, who lives about 40 metres away, called for a stronger continuous noise barrier along the eastern boundary instead of the smaller barrier proposed by the applicant.
Another argued Sorell was already served by four service stations, including one open 24 hours and said the development clashed with the town’s rural character.
The site adjoins the Pitt Water Nature Reserve and Orielton Lagoon, a Ramsar-listed wetland.
Parks and Wildlife raised concerns about noise, lighting and stormwater flowing into the lagoon.
The council imposed conditions including boundary fencing and limits on light spill.
