The burgeoning suburb of Bethlehem is to get its first petrol station.
Construction is due to begin on a Shell station on State Highway 2 next month and the station will be open by October.
The facility will operate 24 hours a day and will provide 12 fulltime jobs.
Greenstone Energy, which owns
and operates Shell stations, estimated the four-month construction would offer 70 jobs. Greenstone communications manager Jonathan Hill said the company was in the process of contracting the construction and he expected local workers to benefit.
The site will be operated by Dave and Lynette Gillies, who already operate 11 Shell stations in the Bay.
The news was welcomed by Bethlehem businesses spoken to by the Bay of Plenty Times. There has been no petrol station in Bethlehem for more than five years.
Mark Arundel, who runs Bethlehem Pharmacy, said it was "brilliant news" for the area.
"That's something that's been missing for a while and with the growth out here it's absolutely appropriate that we have it.
"As someone in the Bethlehem business community, having a full complement of services for the community is what we are really keen to have because everything complements everything else in that way. This is growing into a thriving urban semi-rural community."
Ivan Scarfe, owner of Bethlehem Motors, said the news would be welcomed by Bethlehem residents.
"It's badly needed out here."
The application to build a petrol station had initially been opposed by Bethlehem resident Michael Andersen, who had lived next door to the site.
Mr Andersen said yesterday he had removed his objection and his house had been removed from the site.
