A petrol station proposal for Bethlehem is being appealed after it was knocked back by the Tauranga City Council.
Greenwater Investments Ltd wants to build a service station opposite the site of the future roundabout planned for the northern end of the main road through the town.

After a planning hearing in June, planning commissioner Greg Hill declined consent saying the adverse effects of the development in a residential zone would be more than minor and they could not be appropriately avoided, remedied or mitigated.
Greenwater Investments is appealing this decision – it is currently at the mediation stage.
The site is opposite Te Paeroa Rd on the northern side of SH2. Te Paeroa Rd is intended to become the new access to Carmichael Road from SH2 and on the southern side provide access to a future residential development.
It is the expected effect of the heavy traffic at the 24 hour service station on the amenity of nearby residents, such as noise pollution, that is the main reason for the application being declined.
A petrol station has already been consented for Bethlehem on the other side of SH2 on the grassed area opposite the shops on commercially zoned land owned by Countdown. That consent has been in place for a while and was recently extended.