The development application includes construction of a 24-hour service station and truck stop with bowsers for cars and trucks, convenience store, kitchen, weighbridge and truck wash located at 2804 Federation Way, at the corner of Murray Valley Highway.
The development application is from Outlook Property Service Pty Ltd Parkville, Melbourne. The application requires endorsement from various agencies and Indigo Shire Council.
A focus meeting which will include applicants and objectors will take place on Thursday, June 20 at 6.00pm in the Rutherglen Memorial Hall.
“Our family have been custodians of the land for over 100 years. Our business was the first vineyard in North East Victoria to be certified sustainable, and soon we will be the first to be certified carbon neutral. Our commitment to the preservation and care of the land and our environment for future generations is evident in our business values, decision making and investment strategies,” a statement from Lake Moodemere Estate includes.
The long statement, which predicts catastrophic consequences should the proposal proceed, includes the following:
●The proposed site is a direct catchment for both Sunday Creek and Lake Moodemere. The first flow is via Sunday Creek which feeds directly into the major asset of Lake Moodemere. The second flow runs adjacent to the Murray Valley Highway, through our property bordering Lake Moodemere and directly into Lake Moodemere. Point source pollutants, both from the accumulation of small runoff over time, and the potential for catastrophic leaks, will flow from the proposed service station site directly into the National Forest area of Lake Moodemere, delivering severely contaminated water into both the Sunday Creek end of Lake Moodemere and further to the west directly into Lake Moodemere.
●The planning permit appears to cover three titles, however only one title is listed. All three titles are zoned rural including the listed title 7963/16, which does not consist of 40 hectares as required for building in a rural zone.
●Sunday Creek has a thriving population of critically endangered native platypus and rakali (native water rats). The effects of fuel effluent on water quality and native habitat will be catastrophic.
●The effect of water polluted with fuel contaminate, and any pollutants, will significantly drop quality and yield of fruit from grape vines, and be of detriment to the long-term health of the vineyard.
●The health and care of Lake Moodemere is of cultural significance to the Bangarang and Wiradjuri who consider Lake Moodemere to be a vital asset to the protection of culture. Given the potential threat to the ecology of such a significant place - culturally, historically and ecologically, it is disappointing that Bangerang were excluded from conversations by local authorities about the integrity of the reserve.
●Lake Moodemere is closely aligned to Indigo Council's Destination Game Changer 2023 Tourism Strategy, focusing on the revitalisation of Lake Moodemere as a key natural asset (activation of inland waterways). The development of a Truck Stock with directly harmful consequences to Lake Moodemere is in direct contradiction of key projects identified in the Strategy.
●The proposed site for the Truck Stop holds significant historical value to generational residents of the Lake Moodemere/Norong areas as it was once the community hub for residents. A Truck Stop will adversely affect the heritage significance of the site, which is noted by the Indigo Shire to preclude development of heritage areas.
●The Rutherglen Wine, Walks & Cycle Trail Rutherglen recently received $5.1M in Federal Government funding for the construction of the Rutherglen Walk and Cycle Trail, to create 48km of walking and cycling trails. The trail is currently in construction and will run along the section of the Murray Valley Highway directly aligned to the proposed Truck Stop. Trucks crossing the cycle path will create a significant danger to cyclists and adversely affect the appeal of regional exploration by tourists. Is the allocation of public funds through grants for this initiative compatible with the cycle trail development?
●The Sunday Creek Reconfiguration Project has recently been funded by the Australian and Victorian governments and will be delivered in partnership with Goulburn-Murray Water. The development of a Truck Stop in a catchment area directly connected to Sunday Creek is in conflict with Council’s documented commitment through this project to allow the diversity of the Lake Moodemere wetland complex to be restored, thereby enhancing the ecological outcomes and conditions for populations of native fish, threatened turtles, frog populations, wetland bird habitats, and water dependent vegetation.
●The nearby farmland is used for livestock grazing and stock needs to be moved around the area to new sources of feed and to yards for animal husbandry practices. This is already problematic and will only increase. Farmers will put themselves and their stock at risk to manage the speed and volume of traffic in the area.
●The commercialisation resulting from the proposed Truck Stop is in contrast to The Rutherglen Place Plan which identifies key strengths for Rutherglen to include its strong sense of community and its access to beautiful natural surroundings such as Lake Moodemere and inland waterways.
●There are many trees covering the proposed site. To remove such a large amount of tree cover is environmentally negligent and in contradiction of Indigo Shire's Climate Action and Environment & Sustainability pledges.
●There is no reasonable or justifiable public need or want for another service station in the Rutherglen area. There are four major roadhouse stations within 30km of the proposed site.
*BP Barnawartha Truck stop - 30km from proposed site
*Corowa sale yards BP Truck stop - 5km from proposed site
*BP Yarrawonga Truck stop - 30km from proposed site
*BP Wangaratta Truck stop - 30km from proposed site
Whilst neighbouring residents have been notified by council of such developments as hay sheds, short term accommodation, residential homes and extensions in the past, they are not satisfied about the subject promulgation.
"The size and intensity of the proposed use or development was deemed too insignificant to warrant personal notification,” residents said.
“We would argue a Truck Stop is undeniably a significant ‘use and development’ of a site with significant impact on residents in proximity of the development, town residents and businesses, and those who care for the environment, most specifically the culturally and environmentally significant waterway, Lake Moodemere.”
Indigo Community Voice President, Mr. Herb Ellerbock, expressed the community's apprehensions in a recent statement: "We believe this development needs to be carefully assessed and also poses risks to our local environment and community.
“The area is already adequately serviced by existing truck stops in Corowa, Barnawartha North, Yarrawonga, and Glenrowan. Adding another facility would be superfluous.
“One of the primary concerns highlighted by ICV is the potential contamination of Sunday Creek by fuel, chemical runoff, but more importantly sediment which would exacerbate the current high erosion currently occurring.”
Mr Ellerbock said the Australian Platypus Conservancy has raised concerns on the proposed development of a service station in a sub-catchment that appears to drain directly to the Sunday Creek, Lake Moodemere system.
“The development could potentially have an adverse impact on the numbers of local platypus and a native aquatic mammal rakali an Australian ‘water-rat’,” he said.
"Contaminating Sunday Creek would have devastating effects on our vineyards and native wildlife. We cannot afford to further impact the ecosystem for an unnecessary truck stop.”
Noise pollution and increased traffic risks are additional concerns for nearby residents and the community. The site is adjacent to farmhouses and lies along the Rutherglen Loops Cycle Trail, which is expected to see significant use in the coming years.
“The increased traffic would pose serious safety risks to cyclists using the new Rutherglen Loops Cycle Trail," Mr Ellerbock said.
“Whilst currently the expected high levels of cyclists have not occurred in the future, Indigo Shire Council's own business case projects that the trail will attract up to 50,000 rides annually by 2033.”
