By Melissa Meehan
AN INDEPENDENT petrol station has lost its battle against the big boys after VCAT sided with multinational petrol companies and refused to allow the station to build access to the freeway.
Bruce Clough’s Nar Nar Goon station, which now buys fuel from Shell, has been left without freeway access.
Known for having the cheapest fuel in town, the service station has been on the site since the 1920s and only lost access to the freeway when the Pakenham Bypass was built.
In December last year, Cardinia Shire Council granted Mr Clough a permit to reinstate his freeway access that was lost when the Pakenham Bypass was built.
His competitors in Longwarry and Officer took the matter to VCAT and last week a decision was made to refuse the permit.
Mr Clough said he would accept the umpire’s decision but said he found it hard to believe.
“Something is wrong when new policy comes along and disadvantages existing business,” Mr Clough said.
“This decision advantages the new businesses on the block, it just seems a little strange.
“I feel sorry for the community both local and those that use the freeway – we just wanted to make it safer.”
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