By Jess Baker
Warwick residents could soon have access to a car wash, dog wash, Mexican restaurant and service station all in one, with a development application now before Southern Downs Regional Council.
The development is proposed for 9 Alexandra Drive, a 1.49 acre site previously used for a service station but currently vacant.
An application to build a service station, a food and drink outlet, and a retail store at the site was submitted by land development consultancy TJ Kelly Surveys to SDRC in January 2020, and was approved in September 2020.
Last month, the same group requested that the construction of a car and dog wash facility be allowed instead of the construction of a retail store.
Owner of the development Michael Kljaic said if the amendment was approved, building would likely commence in the coming months.
“Before Christmas we’ll definitely have started,” Michael said.
He said the brand of the service station being developed was yet to be confirmed, but the food and drink outlet would be the incredibly popular Mexican quick-service restaurant Zambrero.
A planning report submitted to SDRC in June 2021 stated the restaurant would be established adjacent to the service station retail shop, with an outdoor dining area to be built on the northern side of the building.
The service station was said to be the “primary component” of the development, featuring eight fuel bowsers for cars and two fuelling stations for trucks.
It was proposed that the southern corner of the site would be used for a car wash with four wash bays, four bays for vacuuming and detailing vehicles, and a small dog wash bay.
According to the planning report, a total of 38 parking spaces will be provided at the site both adjacent to the service station building and on the northern side of the car wash.
Michael Kljaic said the car and dog wash would complement the approved service station and Mexican restaurant well, and would be appropriate for the Alexandra Drive site.
“That spot has been very deserted and it’ll be really good to change that,” Michael said.
“It’s a really good location in my eyes.
“Trucks coming in and out – they’re not going to affect anyone because there’s no residential around.”
Though based on the Gold Coast, Michael is no stranger to the Warwick property market.
He developed boutique estate Orchard Grove, comprising 66 homes and duplex residences, in 2017 – which he said is selling extremely well today.
“We’ve just finished the selling stage for 7A which is all completely sold out,” he said.
“I’m just in the process of organising starting 7B which is another 31 lots.”
The decision of whether to approve the development of a car wash and dog wash instead of a retail shop at 9 Alexandra Drive now sits with SDRC.
