A MALUA Bay businessman is searching for answers and wants something done about the old service station site on the corner of George Bass Drive and Kuppa Avenue.
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Drew Deck, a sales consultant at LJ Hooker Malua Bay, would like to see some life brought to the site, which has been vacant for five years.
The service station, mechanic, Laundromat and take-away closed in 2009 after the landlord reportedly almost doubled the rent, making it impossible for the businesses to stay open.
Mr Deck describes the site as an “eyesore” and believes something needs to be done about it.
“It’s been five years — April 5 2009 it closed for business — and it has been fenced ever since,” Mr Deck said.
“Everybody that comes through Malua Bay asks what is happening with the service station and I can’t tell them.”
Concern is held for the safety of youths who, Mr Deck says, enter the site through gaps in the fence and skate on the site.
“The gas bottle is still there which shouldn’t be there anymore, that’s dangerous,” Mr Deck said.
“I don’t know the status of the tanks but after six months, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they have to be filled with concrete, sand or foam or removed.
“One of the walls in between the two garage bays has been damaged and is leaning out on an angle down at the bottom.
“It is in danger of collapsing.”
Mr Deck said he had been in contact with council and emailed all the councillors.
“Council surely has a bit of leverage to make sure the site isn’t an eyesore,” he said.
“It’s getting to me; I would like to see something done.
“It’s time, it can’t sit here forever like this.
“While it sits idle like this it’s only going to get worse, it’s not going to improve.”
Mr Deck said people had made enquiries about re-establishing the service station, however the proposal made to the owners was “not what they wanted”.
“I love Malua Bay but I don’t like this,” Mr Deck said.
A council spokeswoman advised the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner to contact NSW WorkCover and/or the EPA about the work health and safety issues of the site, including the decommissioning and removal of the tanks.
“The Environment Protection Authority is currently the appropriate regulatory authority for underground petroleum storage systems,” she said.
“While Eurobodalla Shire Council has liaised with the owner and requested that the site to be made secure and safe, we do not have the statutory ability to ask them or other landholders to sell, improve or redevelop.”
WorkCover advised it had nothing to do with the site as no work had been undertaken on it in the past five years.
The Bay Post/Moruya Examiner also sought comment from the EPA and awaits a response.
Liangis Investments Pty Ltd, who owns the property, was also contacted but did not respond.