Alpine Shire Council is seeking community feedback on the potential purchase of the Shell Service Station in Bright.
Council recently submitted a non-binding Expression of Interest (EOI) for the purchase of the business and freehold site at 1-3 Anderson Street.
The EOI is conditional on a clean environmental report and appropriate due diligence, and the purchase remains subject to a formal decision of Council.
Council Chief Executive Officer, Will Jeremy, said the site, at the corner of Gavan and Anderson streets, has strategic value for the Alpine Shire community.
"Council officers anticipate the key intersections of Star Road, Gavan Street and Anderson Street will become increasingly hard to navigate as traffic volumes increase into the future," Mr Jeremy said.
"Ownership of the Shell Service Station site would allow Council to improve vehicular movements at these key intersections, and also provide an opportunity to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety and to improve amenity at the entrance to the Bright CBD."
In late November 2023, 1-3 Anderson Street was offered for sale through an Expression of Interest process.
Mr Jeremy said it is understood that a fuel service station has operated from this site since 1962, and the site has been under the same ownership since 1992.
"While we don't currently have concept designs for how changes to the area may look, we believe that we need to seriously consider this opportunity whilst the purchase of the site is an option – we cannot foresee when this opportunity may come up again," he said.
"If Council proceeds with the purchase, we don't anticipate that this site will be redeveloped in the near future; this is just the first step in a longer term plan for the area.
"Construction is likely to sit within a five to 10 year timeframe."
Council has received in-principle support from Regional Roads Victoria for a future upgrade of the Anderson and Gavan streets intersection, along with the adjacent Gavan Street and Star Road intersection.
Mr Jeremy said at last night's meeting, Council resolved to engage with the community over a three week period.
"Councillors would appreciate hearing what the community's views are in relation to potentially purchasing this site, as well as their experiences with traffic issues through the CBD of Bright," he said.
"Feedback received from the community during this engagement process will be presented to Council for consideration when making a decision on the purchase of the property."
Community members are invited to have their say by completing a short survey online at https://engage.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/purchase-1-3-anderson-street-bright, with submissions closing at 5pm on Tuesday, 19 March 2024.
You can also submit feedback by filling out a printed copy of the survey from our Customer Service Centre in Bright, or our libraries in Bright, Myrtleford and Mount Beauty.
Alternatively, you can email your feedback to info@alpineshire.vic.gov.au
For more information, visit https://engage.alpineshire.vic.gov.au/purchase-1-3-anderson-street-bright