It’s a monster of a development sitting at the gateway to the Nature Coast, which was identified in 2009 as a site requiring scenic protection controls.

Since Eurobodalla Council prides itself on its concern for the environment, we can only hope that Caltex has installed appropriate safeguards to prevent oil and petrol products accidentally leaking into the Clyde River where farmers are growing oysters.

I wonder if council’s town planner considered the difficulties of this site.

It’s a residential area, zoned since 2012 as R3, medium density residential, which doesn’t allow such commercial developments.

And being at the junction of two highways with two roundabouts, it will create major traffic jams, especially at holiday time.

I pity the residents in Wray Street and Penthouse Place as they battle the invasion of trucks and cars.

This increased traffic will be a safety hazard to residents and tourists alike, as well as the many cyclists and walkers who enjoy that area.

Are there any benefits?

Council claims that it brings employment to the Bay.

It’s taken nine months to build and most of the workers are from Sydney and Wollongong.

A rough guess says 10 people are needed to run a big service station but if the Caltex station near Bunnings closes, these employees may well move across the bridge, thus cancelling out any new jobs.

As we know, the profits won’t stay in the Eurobodalla; they will simply disappear into Caltex’s coffers.

Altogether, another fine piece of civic planning and development by council - rather like the lights in North Street.

Doris Robinson

Batemans Bay