THE Gull service station in Shelley, one of the last in Perth to offer driveway service, will be lost to the local community in just over a month after the company decided it was no longer worth keeping.
Station manager Murray Sibson said he was saddened at the prospect of having to leave the area he had served for the past 21 years, including the past 11 years at Gull Shelley.
“I’ve got clientele and a good name in the area after 21 years,” Mr Sibson said.
“I run a pretty profitable business here with the store and the workshop.”
Mr Sibson said it would be a loss to the community, who had been used to receiving friendly driveway service and a free local breakdown service.
Gull WA general manager of fuels Michael Mullins said the company decided against renewing its lease from the City of Canning because costs had escalated and the fuel retailing business was not profitable for Gull.
The premises must be vacated by January 1. “The lease situation prompted a review … it came down to costs versus revenue,” Mr Mullins said.
“Council were seeking a commitment from us (a lease agreement).
“When we looked at projected revenues, it just wasn’t enough (to justify keeping it open).”
The company has offered Mr Sibson the job of managing four other sites, including the 24-hour Lynwood and Canning Vale sites, which he is considering.
There are several petitions in support of Mr Sibson circulating in the local area, including one in his store that has been signed by about 400 people.
A petition started by the Riverton, Rossmoyne and Shelley Ratepayers’ Association has about 1000 signatures from concerned locals.
Vice-president Norm Snell said the City of Canning had an obligation to find another fuel retailer for the site because it was council-owned and controlled land.
“Residents have the right to insist that a service station continues to operate on that site… they (council) should find someone else to take over the lease,” Mr Snell said.
“People here are really upset… we are concerned the area will become an eyesore and that shops will suffer and have to close as well.
“It could create a snowball effect where other services will disappear from the area.”
Council considered the matter behind closed doors at its November 10 meeting, and approved a request from Gull to demolish and remediate the site.
Deputy Mayor Bruce Mason moved to quell what he described as community misinformation about the reasons for Gull’s decision to cease operations.
“The closure is a commercial decision by Gull and council’s lease conditions were not significant in this decision… the rent had been set substantially below the market rate for the site,” Cr Mason said.
“Without knowing the facts, the residents and ratepayers’ association has created an unrealistic expectation council can assist a failing commercial operation to continue.”