New APCO service station eyes Christmas opening

APCO says it is aiming to complete its latest service station, now under construction in Mt Duneed, before Christmas this year.

The independent service station chain officially started major works at the site, at the intersection of Surf Coast Highway, Mt Duneed Road and Lower Duneed Road, earlier this year.

The Mt Duneed service station will be APCO’s eighth in the City of Greater Geelong and has an overall cost of about $8.5 million.

Both the city and the Surf Coast Shire (whose boundary lies just to the south) objected to APCO’s planning application for the project and the matter was escalated to VCAT, which directed the city to issue a planning permit in November 2016.

Temporary fences were installed and land clearing began in February 2017.

APCO co-director Peter Anderson said last week that the holdups were the most challenging part of the project.

“It’s disappointing that the local council officers and councillors didn’t support the project during the planning permit process.”

APCO says customers and motorists should expect “locals fair and honest fuel pricing, awesome food and coffee any time”, with the Mt Duneed store featuring high quality architectural and landscaping elements to complement the amenities, including cafe24-7 and IGA X-press.

The store design will be customer-centric, making it easy to access and navigate, with café and grocery elements divided into two distinct sections.

APCO says the new store will be as good as its service station in Alfredton, Ballarat, which won Independent Store of the Year and Overall Store of the Year at this year’s Australian Association of Convenience Stores Gala Awards.

The chain’s other recent awards include at the Australian Association of Convenience Stores Gala in Excellence in Food & Coffee Offer Development for the APCO cafe24-7, the Most Satisfied Customers Awards in Petrol & Service Stations at the Canstar Blue awards for the second consecutive year, and a Bronze Medal in the Golden Bean Awards for its Gigante signature blend coffee beans.