Planning Agenda - Eurobodalla Shire Council - NSW Government

ENVIRONMENT REPORT TO ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING AND
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING
HELD ON TUESDAY 1 AUGUST 2006 Page 5
P06/52 NAROOMA KERB-SIDE FUEL BOWSERS 81.0219.B
SYNOPSIS
This report details the known history and characterises the risks associated with the operation
of an underground petroleum storage system (UPSS) and fuel dispenser located within the
footpath reserve adjacent to the Volume Plus Service Station at 90 Campbell Street Narooma.
In consideration of the location the report makes recommendations about the future of the
bowser and UPSS.
BACKGROUND
The Service Station is located at 90 Campbell Street Narooma on the western side of the
Highway and downhill from the Narooma Cinema. According to the owners of the property
the sale of petroleum from the site has been conducted on the premises since the early 1900’s
with up to 7 dispensing bowsers located within the road reserve.
One combined unleaded petrol and diesel fuel bowser currently remains within the road
reserve, on the footpath immediately adjacent to the kerb. This bowser services the public
with unleaded petrol and diesel fuel and is the only diesel dispensing bowser at the premises.
The proprietor advises that this bowser is mainly used for diesel because of the size of
vehicles requiring diesel fuel and on-site manoeuvrability constraints.
Diesel was previously dispensed from the bowser at the side of the premises, frequently
requiring vehicles to reverse out of the service station. With the increasing popularity of
diesel sales the dispensing point was relocated to the kerb-side bowser. Relocation of the
diesel dispensing point from the kerb-side to the pump-island wholly within the service
station premises is possible and would provide a diesel dispensing point accessible to larger
vehicles and facilitate forward movement of vehicles from the premises.
The installation also includes a mix of active and decommissioned underground petroleum
storage systems (UPSS) within the nature strip. The operator of the business does not
currently hold a licence for the underground installations or to dispense fuel from Council
land.
Following redevelopment of the site in 1967 the then Department of Main Roads in
consultation with NSW Police wrote in 1972 advising “The kerbside pumps should be
removed now that the Service Station has been established and it would be appreciated if you
could suggest any way in which Council might assist in obtaining their removal”.
Recent enquiries with the Road and Traffic Authority confirmed their ongoing desire to have
the remaining pump removed due to the unacceptable risks posed by having a fuel dispensing
bowser immediately adjacent to an active traffic lane on a major highway.
Council’s Risk Management Committee foreshadowed that fuel bowsers on public land may
need to be removed at its September 2005 meeting. The situation at the Narooma Service
Station is one of two such installations requiring investigation from a risk management
perspective.